Video shows Saskatchewan tourists detained in Malaysia after naked pose on holy mountain
Siblings Lindsey and Danielle Petersen appear handcuffed in courtroom
CBC News learned on Wednesday that Malaysian police have detained four Western tourists — including siblings Lindsey and Danielle Petersen of Saskatchewan — after an alleged stripping incident on a sacred mountain in the country.
New video footage appears to show the Petersens among detainees in a Malaysian courtroom handcuffed together and dressed in what appears as purple prison fatigues.
- Naked romp on sacred ground leaves 2 from Saskatchewan stuck in Malaysia
- Malaysia detains 2 Canadians among 4 Westerners for alleged naked pose on mountain
A state police chief said they obtained a court order to detain them for four days as an investigation is launched into the alleged indecent behaviour.
The Petersens are believed to have stripped along with a group of 10 people on Mount Kinabalu on the island of Borneo. There are images circulating of the naked pose.
Soon after, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the area that left 18 climbers dead and infrastructure damaged.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Malaysia's Sabah state has blamed the naked pose for the natural disaster and said the actions of the tourists "disrespected the sacred mountain."
He has said a special ritual is necessary to "appease the mountain spirit."
Many local tourists have also voiced concerns about the violation of cultural laws.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Canada said earlier in the week that it is working on the case.
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