The case dates back to May 30 last and, according to the local tribal beliefs caused the June 5 earthquake, which killed 18 people. Tourists are accused of disturbing the peace; six others are still sought. The judge orders four more days of custody, pending the closing of the investigation.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Four Western tourists appeared today in Sabah State courts, part of a larger group, accused of having taken naked pictures, on top of Mount Kinabalu, one of the most famous peaks in Malaysia .

According to the Kuala Lumpur authorities two Canadians, a Briton and a Dutchman could be charged with disturbing the peace. Six other people involved in the affair, dating to May 30, are still sought by police.

In the days after the story, Mount Kinabalu was hit by a magnitude 6 earthquake (June 5) which caused the deaths of 18 people, including children. According to a senior Malaysian government official the earthquake was provoked by the four tourists acts which "angered the spirit of the mountain", which is considered sacred.

Nude photos of 10 tourists went viral online and social media, angering the local population. The summit, a Unesco heritage site and popular destination for climbing, is considered sacred by the Malaysian Kadazan Dusu tribal group, as a resting place of the spirits. The tribals also act as tourist guides for excursions on the peak and ask climbers to respect the spirit avoiding shouting or acts that may disturb the peace.

In a tweet Sabah Minister of Tourism Masidi Manjun confirms the legal action against the four foreigners, who for the next four days will remain in custody in prison. Their lawyer has asked they be separated from other prisoners, for fear of retaliation and revenge. They are also alleged to have urinated on the slopes of the sacred mountain.

In the hours following the earthquake, groups of Internet users in Malaysia and Sabah officials focused their attention on nude photos taken on the mountain, arguing that this action angered the spirits and provoked the earthquake.

However, the same Masidi also states that the idea of ​​a link between the photos and the earthquake is the result of a "misunderstanding". "I never said - he claimed - that they have caused the earthquake, but their actions have hurt the feelings of the large tribal population of Sabah".

An interreligious purification ritual of the mountain is set to take place, which will involve Muslims (the vast majority in Malaysia), Christians and tribal leaders.

• MALAYSIA
• tribal
• leaders
• tourists
• sacred
• mountains
• earthquake