S. African held for trying to climb Everest without permit

KATHMANDU: A South African climber was in police custody in Nepal’s capital yesterday after he attempted to scale Mount Everest without obtaining the mandatory permit, an official said.

Ryan Sean Davy from Johannesburg had been caught by a mountaineering official at the Everest base camp earlier this month and his passport was seized.

He agreed to trek down the mountain and surrender to the Tourism Department in Kathmandu, where he was held on Tuesday.

Tourism Department chief Dinesh Bhattarai said Davy was in police custody for questioning.

He could be fined US$22,000 (RM95,100) and banned from visiting Nepal and climbing mountains for years.

He has not been allowed to speak to media since his detention and a motive was unclear.

Permits to climb Everest cost US$11,000 per person, which helps the impoverished country fund government services, including rescues of climbers stricken by injuries and illness while on the mountain. AP