Tan Eng Lee, 42, a carpenter, was also fined $2,000 for having two obscene films in his Nokia mobile phone. He pleaded guilty to intruding into the privacy of a 26-year-old woman at Parco Bugis Junction on June 18, 2006.

A magistrate's court heard that Tan was standing close to the woman and her husband that day as they were on an escalator.

The victim felt uneasy. Her 40-year-old husband turned around and saw Tan standing close behind them. Asked why he was so close, Tan could not explain.

On seeing that he was carrying a paper bag and appeared panicky, the husband demanded to see the contents.

He found a mobile phone wrapped in a sock with an opening exposing the camera lens of the phone which was in recording mode.

The couple called the police who arrested Tan.

Three other similar charges of intruding into the privacy of unknown women were considered during his sentencing.

He could have been jailed for up to one year or fined or both.

For the Films Act offence, he can be fined $500 for each film or jailed for up to six months or both.