KL transvestites fined

KL transvestites fined

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Nine Malaysian Moslems who were arrested in a raid on a transvestite beauty contest have been charged in an Islamic court, a news report said yesterday.

They were accused in the northern town of Alor Setar, Kedah State, of wearing women's clothes and acting like women in a public place, both transgressions of the Islamic code.

Eight pleaded guilty and were fined 800 ringgit (US$ 200). Four paid the fines, and the others who could not afford to pay received six month jail sentences.

One of the accused pleaded innocent and will be tried on June 22. The nine were among 50 transvestites, including three Thais and an Indonesian, who were detained by police on May 17 at a wedding that featured a transvestite beauty pageant.

Five non-Moslems were released. Thirty-six other Moslem transvestites will be charged later.