Naked tourists in Malaysia get short prison sentence and fine

Dylan Snel, the Dutch tourist arrested for taking nude photographs on the sacred Malaysian Mount Kinabalu, has been sentenced to 3 days in prison and a fine of 5 thousand ringgit - about 1,200 euros. The three other tourists that were arrested with him received the same sentence. All four tourists plead guilty to the charges of committing obscene acts in a public space, Malaysian newspaper The Star reports. A they have been in remand since Wednesday, they should be released once they have paid their fines. The judge called their actions acts of "foolish antic". "The people, especially the native community, are annoyed. Your act amounted to foolishness on your part", the judge told the four tourists. He said the fact that they pleaded guilty and surrendered showed remorse and counted a s mitigating factors. The four may still be facing charges from the Native Court in Malaysia as it has separate jurisdiction under State native customary laws, The Star reports. "There is no such thing as double jeopardy when t comes to customary laws", Sabah Law association president Datuk John Sikayun told the newspaper. On May 30th a total of 10 tourists took naked photographs on the top of Mount Knabalu, despite the objections of their guide. A few days later, the region was struck by an earthquake that killed 18 people and broke off part of the top of the 4 thousand meter high mountain. Some locals hold the nude hikers responsible for the earthquake.