Cambodian ‘Tarzan’ was high on drugs, say police

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Cambodian construction worker who spent more than 32 hours perched on a 45m-high cengal tree and rebuffed countless attempts to get him to come down was actually high on drugs.

Kuala Terengganu district police chief Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Idris Abdul Rafar said that the man was tested positive for Methamphetamine as soon as he came down the tree at about 8.40pm on Saturday.

The man known as “Zul” had created a stir in Kampung Sungai Pinang near here when he was seen swinging from branch to branch and tree to tree at noon on Friday.

On Saturday, he was seen climbing down the tree on several occasions, but each time he seemed to have changed his mind, and started climbing up higher.

“The man was high on drugs. We believe that while under the influence of the drug, he had climbed the tall tree.

“However, as the effect of the drugs lessened, he came to his senses and came down,” he said.

It was reported that the man had climbed down from the tree after policemen who had earlier tried to persuade him to come down decided to hide in nearby bushes.

Upon climbing down from the tree, the man was immediately arrested.

Earlier, the team from the Fire and Rescue Department took more than 24 hours trying to coax the father of two to come down but to no avail.

Various methods were used by firemen and police personnel to persuade him to come down.

A villager had even offered RM100 in a bid to coax the man to climb down.

ACP Idris added early investigations also revealed that the man did not have any problem with other villagers as speculated and was not trying to commit suicide.

The Cambodian, however, did not possess any valid work or travel documents and was remanded for 14 days under the Immigration Act yesterday.