KOTA BARU, MALAYSIA: Four of 15 transvestites detained for taking part in a beauty pageant were each fined RM1,000 and sentenced to seven days in jail by the Bachok Syariah Court yesterday.

The four, in their 30s, from Kuala Lumpur, Jerantut in Pahang, and Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor, pleaded guilty to cross-dressing.

Kelantan Religious Department chief assistant director (enforcement) Mohd Abdul Aziz Mohd Noor said the others, who were locals, would be charged on Aug 24 for the same offence.

The transvestites were detained for taking part in a beauty pageant at a resort in Bachok on Friday night.

He said the cases involving the four were speeded up as they were from out of town.

Department director Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said they could not trace the organiser and would leave it to the local council to take action against the resort operator for allowing the event to be held on its premises.

Meanwhile, a primary school teacher, who was one of the participants, will be suspended pending investigation into the case.

The others are traders or work in beauty saloons.

State education director Ismail Mohd Noor said he was waiting for a report from the Religious Department before issuing the suspension order. He said the teacher should have behaved with decorum even outside of school.