A TOP Singapore lawyer earning about $700,000 a year apparently stole items worth less than $1,800 from a Hong Kong hotel room because he was under stress.

Choy Chee Yean, 40, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary before a Hong Kong court on Monday.

However, his lawyer, Senior Counsel Andrew Bruce, told the court that Choy was clinically depressed at the time and the theft was a 'cry for help' as he was in a weak state of mind due to depression and stress.

He said this had been caused by an unhappy marriage and a daughter who had developed dyslexia.

Two psychiatrists attested to his depression, and the judge accepted their findings in handing Choy a 12-month suspended sentence yesterday.

The one-year suspended sentence means Choy does not have to go to jail. But if he commits another offence during that one year, then he may have to serve out the sentence for the original offence.

Choy, a partner in one of Singapore's largest law firms, Rajah & Tann, had stolen some electronic items belonging to another hotel guest.

The court heard that on 17 Jan, a European businessman checked into a Novotel Citygate hotel room.

He then headed to the hotel bar for a drink without shutting his hotel room door, Hong Kong's Apple Daily reported.

Choy, who was in Hong Kong on a business trip and was staying at the same hotel in Tung Chung, subsequently went into the room and took a mobile phone, a phone charger, a personal digital assistant, an iPod Nano, and a set of bluetooth earphones.

The hotel's closed-circuit television caught him outside the hotel room door, the South China Morning Post reported. The items, worth about HK$9,500 ($1,650), were later found in Choy's hotel room.

The New Paper understands that Choy will be allowed to return to Singapore in the next few days, once the legalities have been sorted out.

In a show of support, at least eight partners, including Senior Counsel Quentin Loh, from his firm went to Hong Kong for the court hearing.

Rajah & Tann yesterday issued a press statement expressing its 'great happiness and relief' at Choy's suspended sentence.

It added: 'Two eminent Hong Kong psychiatrists gave independent medical opinions that he had been suffering from clinical depression for some time.'

He had suffered a major depressive episode just before he committed the offence, it said. Mr Bruce told the court that Choy was under great stress on the day of the theft.

He was upset when a client failed to appear for a meeting, since Choy was expecting to collect a payment for his firm.

Rajah & Tann added: 'In keeping with Chee Yean's integrity and upright character, he chose to take responsibility for his actions.

'He sought psychiatric help, commenced treatment and decided not to contest the case on any grounds but to place himself at the mercy of the court.'

District Judge Patrick Li called the case 'exceptional' and ruled that Choy 'was not fully aware of the consequences of his conduct'.

The judge noted that Choy has a good background: He has a high professional standing and had been of impeccable character before the incident. He added: 'It does not pay him to take such a great risk and gain so little.'

Many of Choy's colleagues, friends and fellow church members had also submitted to the court their testimonies of his good character.

According to Rajah & Tann's website, Choy has practised commercial and engineering law in Singapore and Hong Kong.

He was called to the Bar in Singapore in 1993 and in Hong Kong in 2001, Ming Pao had earlier reported.

He is also admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. He has worked for clients in the region in 'major infrastructure projects'.

In recent years, Choy had even been recognised in the Legal Asia Pacific 500 survey on top arbitration lawyers here.

The New Paper understands that Choy could still face disciplinary proceedings in Singapore under the Legal Profession Act.