Man who climbed telco tower probed for trespassing

KANOWIT: The 35-year-old Indonesian man who scaled a telecommunication tower at Bukit Memaloh here will be investigated for trespassing into prohibited area and for not having valid travel documents.

Kanowit police chief DSP Tega Bilong said that the man identified as Pandy Bujang, a woodcutter in Nanga Dap here, will be investigated under Section 7 of Prohibited Areas and Prohibited Places Act 1959 for trespassing, and Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for illegal entry into the state.

He said that the man was sent to Kanowit Hospital after he descended the 150-metre tower on Tuesday.

“The hospital found that he did not suffer any physical injuries but he needed treatment due to his weak condition.

“His motive for climbing the tower is still under investigation because he is in a state of hallucination and doesn’t want to talk,” he said in a statement.

The man had spent more than 30 hours atop the tower before he was coaxed by rescuers to come down on Tuesday.

He was spotted climbing the structure on Monday morning and refused to come down despite efforts to persuade him to descend.