Phua Lian Chuan, 51, a sales assistant, pleaded guilty on the 11th day of his trial earlier this month. He had originally claimed trial to the offences, as well as having a pager without a licence, near Block 103 Yishun Ring Road on July 22, 2006.

Two police officers saw him behaving in a discreet manner outside Hwa Lee Textile where he worked that day. He was seen holding onto a pager and repeatedly monitoring it, answering several calls on his mobile phone, and making entries on pieces of paper. Police closed in and arrested him.

They found 19 pieces of paper with entries which were connected to illegal horse betting and 4D draws. Phua confessed that he had collected the bets from punters who came to the shop to pay him. He would then inform a Malaysian of the bets and stakes he had collected.