Little to celebrate for 23 birthday revellers

GEORGE TOWN - A total of 23 people, who were among 88 arrested in a state of intoxication while celebrating a birthday party at a homestay bungalow on Jalan Masjid Negeri here last Sunday, were hauled to court yesterday to face drug-related charges.

The group, which included eight women, were charged in three magistrate's courts with consuming various types of drugs at the Northeast district police headquarters' narcotics criminal investigation division between 9am and 11am on April 20.

Eight were charged before magistrate L. Umma Devi while seven others were charged before magistrate Sri Pracha Nanthini Balabedha. All pleaded not guilty.

The other eight were charged before magistrate Dianne Ningrad Nor Azahar. Six pleaded guilty. The rest claimed trial.

Umma Devi and Dianne Ningrad set bail at RM2,000 (S$580) for each accused and fixed June 24 and June 26, respectively, for mention, pending the chemist report.

Sri Pracha set bail at RM1,500 for each accused and fixed June 19 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutors Noor Azura Zulkiflee, Nur Farhana Hashim and Emma Syafawati Abdul Wahab prosecuted.