YouTuber who gave ‘killer’ Coke can to world’s deadliest tribe to be held in custody for two weeks as he faces jail
THE YouTuber who gave a can of Coke to the world’s deadliest tribe is to be held in custody for two weeks as he faces jail.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, risked his life by journeying to North Sentinel Island on Saturday – where unwanted visitors have been killed by flying arrows in the past.
The idiotic tourist was arrested after leaving a coconut and can of Coke as a “peace offering” for the tribe.
Polyakov managed to evade patrols by the Indian Navy and set off on the risky expedition from Kurma Dera beach before boarding his makeshift craft – an inflatable boat with a motor and GPS.
He was arrested on March 31 after fishermen spotted him on his return to a hotel where he was staying in the Collinpur area in Andamans and informed local officials.
Ployakov appeared at the district court in Port Blair on Saturday where a judge remanded him to court custody.
He will remain in jail for two weeks, the police chief of the archipelago Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal told The Sun.
Mr Dhaliwal said: “Polyakov who had illegally entered the North Sentinel Islands was produced before the Honorable Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate at Port Blair after completion of his three days police custody remand.”
The court will hear his case again on April 17, he added, saying that no bail petition was forwarded by Polyakov’s defence counsel who have denied all the allegations.
If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison.
And cops have not yet recovered the can of coke as visiting the island is forbidden and worry that it may cause harm to the tribal people.
Mr Dhaliwal added: “The islanders won’t likely have immunity against such chemical drinks.”
Elango Dhandapani, the lawyer who is representing Polyakov, however denied the allegations saying the intrepid tourist had made no such trip to the forbidden island.
“These are only allegations, he is an accused and we are denying these claims. There is no evidence that he visited the island,” he told The Sun.
He added that the US embassy was in contact with him.
Me Dhandapani said: “The US embassy is in touch with me but they will only provide the assistance whatever he wants and not be in a position to influence or interfere in the investigation or the case.
“They are concerned whether his health is okay, he is being provided legal assistance and other requirements.”
Tribal welfare officer Pronob Sircar, who raised the alarm, told The Sun that the adventurer was likely inspired by fellow American Chau was a 26-year-old evangelical Christian, who sailed to North Sentinel Island in 2018 on a mission to bring the word of God to this “heathen” civilisation but was brutally killed.
Contacting isolated tribes can be extremely dangerous due to their lack of immunity to common diseases in the outside world.
And it could even risk leading to devastating epidemics by transmitting a new kind of bug from them to the rest of the planet.
Polyakov’s reckless actions have been slammed for putting the safety of the Sentilese people at risk.
The director of indigenous rights group Survival International, Caroline Pearce, said: “It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic.
“This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk.
“It’s very well known by now that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out.”
Polyakov’s journey
Polyakov set off on the irresponsible mission at 1am on Saturday from Kurma Dera Beach – with the killer can in hand.
The US tourist travelled in an inflatable dingy complete with a make-shift motor and GPS.
He reached the northeastern shore of the island nine hours later, at around 10am.
From here, he scanned the area using binoculars.
He then landed on the island for about five minutes, giving him just enough time to deliver his bizarre offerings.
The YouTuber also collected sand samples and recorded a video on his GoPro before leaving on his boat.
Go Pro footage apparently depicted him “claiming unofficial representation of the US”.
Polyakov remained near the island for another hour, blowing a whistle repeatedly in a crazed attempt to attract attention, but no one responded.
He began his return journey at 1pm, and returned to Kurma Dera Beach by 7pm where he was spotted by local fisherman who alerted the cops.
The police arrested Polyakov and seized his binoculars, Go Pro and life jacket, among other items in his room at The Andaman Sunset View hotel.
Police sources told The Sun that they are currently examining the GoPro footage so cannot share it.
Polyakov regularly posts travel videos on his YouTube channel to his 400 subscribers.
A recent trip to Afghanistan saw him posing with the Taliban and their menacing machinery.