Croatian Hiker Fined for Trespassing on Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu After Rescue
Croatian hiker fined RM25,000 after unauthorized trek on Mount Kinabalu. Rescued after 8 days of survival.
POLICY WIRE — Kinabalu Park, Malaysia — A Croatian hiker was fined the maximum penalty of RM25,000 for illegally entering Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu after being rescued following an eight-day ordeal in the mountain’s rugged terrain.
The 46-year-old, Mauro Persic, who resides in London, had embarked on an unauthorized trek that came to light on September 6 after he slipped and fell about 10 meters down a steep slope. Despite limited phone signal, he managed to send an emergency SOS, leading to a multi-day rescue operation.
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Persic sustained injuries to his leg, ribs, and hands, but described the physical pain as secondary to the mental struggle of being stranded in a narrow trench without food or clean water. He recounted the emotional toll of watching his sleeping bag swept away by a flash flood and clinging to a rock projection to avoid falling deeper into the mountain. His rescue on the eighth day was led by Luis Jai Matuas, whom he called his ‘rescue hero,’ bringing him much-needed relief and hope.
He expressed deep regret over the trespassing, emphasizing that it was not intentional and not motivated by a desire to avoid paying the entry fee. In a Facebook post, he apologized to the people of Sabah, stating he never meant to disrespect their culture or the mountain. The rescue involved at least 43 personnel, who braved difficult conditions to bring him to safety. Reflecting on the experience, he admitted he was taking a dangerous risk, calling it ‘Russian roulette’ with the mountain as the ‘revolver.’ Despite the ordeal, he praised the kindness and generosity of those who helped him and wished Malaysians a Happy Malaysia Day.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
