Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 Source: Star (Malaysia) Copyright: 2000 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. Contact: 13 Jalan 13/6, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Website: http://www.thestar.com.my BARTENDER FINED FOR HAVING ECSTASY PILLS IPOH: A magistrate's court here fined a 23-year-old bartender yesterday RM2,000 for possession of 14 ecstasy pills weighing 4.5gm. Magistrate Yong Zarida Sazali fined Yap Yee Seng after he pleaded guilty to possessing five red and nine yellow pills. Police found the pills in his pocket while he was in front of a disco in Bandar Baru Medan at 11.30pm on Feb 1. Yap paid the fine. In presenting the facts of the case, Chief Insp Sarajit Singh said Yap was arrested by Insp Helmi Ahmad of the Anti-Narcotics Division on suspicion of being involved in selling ecstasy pills. In mitigation, defence counsel K.C. Lai asked for leniency saying that Yap earned only RM700 a month. He said it was Yap's first offence and his guilty plea had saved the court time and cost. Under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, those found in possession of ecstasy pills could be fined a maximum of RM20,000 or jailed five years or both. Posted by: Allan Wilkinson