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British woman among those arrested over 'naked' stunt on Mount Kinabalu Father of British tourist held after 'naked' prank asks for clemency
(about 1 hour later)
The lawyer of a British woman arrested in Malaysia after posing naked for photographs on Mount Kinabalu has requested she and three other western tourists are held separately amid fears for their safety. The father of a British woman arrested in Malaysia for posing naked on Mount Kinabalu has appealed to the authorities not to make an example of her, amid fears for her safety after the prank was blamed for causing a deadly earthquake.
Eleanor Hawkins was one of 10 trekkers who stripped off on the mountain on 30 May in a stunt that a local official said was insulting to indigenous people, suggesting it may even be considered the cause of the deadly earthquake days later. Eleanor Hawkins, 23, from Derby, was one of 10 trekkers who stripped on the mountain on 30 May in a stunt that a local official said was insulting to indigenous people, suggesting it may even be considered the cause of an earthquake that killed 18 people days later.
Hawkins, 23, was arrested at Tawau airport on Tuesday before she was due to depart for Kuala Lumpur. She appeared in court on Wednesday together with a Dutch tourist, Dylan Snel, and two Canadian siblings, Lindsey and Danielle Petersen, court sources have confirmed. Hawkins was arrested at Tawau airport on Tuesday before she was due to depart for Kuala Lumpur. She appeared in court on Wednesday with Dylan Snel, a Dutch tourist, and Lindsey and Danielle Petersen, two Canadian siblings, court sources have confirmed.
The four were remanded for four days pending further investigations into alleged indecency. Their lawyer, Ronny Cham, told the Guardian he requested they be held separately for their own safety, because of the level of public anger in Malaysia generated by the alleged stunt. The four were remanded for four days pending further investigations into alleged indecency.
Hawkins’ father, Tim Hawkins, who runs his own mechanical engineering business in Derby, said: “I would like to appeal to the Malaysian authorities. I have got every faith in their judicial system. I just hope they don’t make an example of them after the tragic earthquake.”
Tim Hawkins told the Guardian that he spoke to his daughter on Wednesday morning: “She is obviously upset. She’s pretty scared. But it was good to speak to her.”
He also spoke of his daughter’s relief to be in the hands of the Malaysia authorities after the stunt prompted an angry backlash among the Malaysian public. “She’s kind of relieved because she saw it coming. It’s good to know where she is. It is not the kind of situation you envisage when your daughter goes travelling.”
Eleanor Hawkins is understood to be held in a cell with Danielle Petersen. Ronny Cham, Hawkins’ lawyer, told the Guardian he requested the group be held separately for their own safety because of the level of public anger generated by the alleged stunt.
Officials in Sabah state, in the northern half of the island of Borneo, accused the tourists of showing “disrespect to the sacred mountain”, which at 4,095 metres is south-east Asia’s highest peak.Officials in Sabah state, in the northern half of the island of Borneo, accused the tourists of showing “disrespect to the sacred mountain”, which at 4,095 metres is south-east Asia’s highest peak.
Sabah’s indigenous Kadazan Dusun people believe the tourists’ behaviour angered the spirit of the mountain and was the reason for a 5.9-magnitude earthquake, which six days later struck near the mountain, killing 18 climbers.Sabah’s indigenous Kadazan Dusun people believe the tourists’ behaviour angered the spirit of the mountain and was the reason for a 5.9-magnitude earthquake, which six days later struck near the mountain, killing 18 climbers.
Hawkins was third to enter the court, as the group was ushered in handcuffed together and dressed in purple prison uniforms. Hawkins was third to enter the court on Wednesday, as the group was ushered in handcuffed together and dressed in purple prison uniforms.
The four were remanded until 14 June. Cham said they are likely to be charged with “causing annoyance by conducting obscene acts in a public place”.The four were remanded until 14 June. Cham said they are likely to be charged with “causing annoyance by conducting obscene acts in a public place”.
He said if found guilty they could face three months in prison, or a fine, or both. He said if charged, the defence is likely to argue that the top of the mountain should not be defined as a public place where annoyance could be caused to the public.He said if found guilty they could face three months in prison, or a fine, or both. He said if charged, the defence is likely to argue that the top of the mountain should not be defined as a public place where annoyance could be caused to the public.
Cham accused local state officials of of stoking a public backlash against the tourists. He said: “I ask the court they be held in separate custody from other detainees. Because of the sentiment in this case, we want to protect their safety. People are laying blame on them for offending the mountain. There is a lot of stupidity involved and unfortunately politicians have jumped on the bandwagon to condemn them for causing the earthquake, which is ridiculous.” Cham accused local state officials of of stoking a public backlash against the tourists. He said: “I asked the court they be held in separate custody from other detainees. Because of the sentiment in this case, we want to protect their safety. People are laying blame on them for offending the mountain. There is a lot of stupidity involved and unfortunately politicians have jumped on the bandwagon to condemn them for causing the earthquake, which is ridiculous.”
Hawkins’ father, Tim Hawkins, who runs his own business in Derby, said: “I would like to appeal to the Malaysian authorities. I have got every faith in their judicial system. I just hope they don’t make an example of them after the tragic earthquake.”
Tim Hawkins told the Guardian that he spoke to his daughter on Wednesday morning: “She is obviously upset. She’s pretty scared. But it was good to speak to her.”
The Foreign Office in London confirmed that a British national had been arrested and consular assistance was being provided.The Foreign Office in London confirmed that a British national had been arrested and consular assistance was being provided.
Sabah’s deputy chief minister, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, said a special ritual will be conducted to “appease the mountain spirit”.Sabah’s deputy chief minister, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, said a special ritual will be conducted to “appease the mountain spirit”.
malaysiakini: Four foreigners held for stripping atop Mt Kinabalu http://t.co/zjEjc9YxA9 #SabahQuake pic.twitter.com/thr14eX6Hrmalaysiakini: Four foreigners held for stripping atop Mt Kinabalu http://t.co/zjEjc9YxA9 #SabahQuake pic.twitter.com/thr14eX6Hr
Sabah’s state tourism minister, Masidi Manjun, tweeted that legal proceedings against the four foreigners had begun and that they would be remanded for four days.Sabah’s state tourism minister, Masidi Manjun, tweeted that legal proceedings against the four foreigners had begun and that they would be remanded for four days.
Legal proceedings have commenced in court against 4 alleged 'strippers on Mt Kinabalu' this morning. Remand application for 4 days granted.Legal proceedings have commenced in court against 4 alleged 'strippers on Mt Kinabalu' this morning. Remand application for 4 days granted.
Masidi said the suggestion that the tourists’ actions had caused the earthquake was “misconstrued”.Masidi said the suggestion that the tourists’ actions had caused the earthquake was “misconstrued”.
“I never said that they actually caused the earthquake, but their actions were against the people of the largest tribe in Sabah. The mountain is a revered and sacred site,” he said.“I never said that they actually caused the earthquake, but their actions were against the people of the largest tribe in Sabah. The mountain is a revered and sacred site,” he said.