A Malaysian hairstylist, who took upskirt video clips of women at MRT stations, was jailed for nine weeks on Friday for insulting their modesty.

Yap Wen Jack, 20, faced a total of 39 counts of using a mobile phone camera to capture video recordings of victims in dresses, skirts and shorts between September and October this year. He pleaded guilty to nine charges and had the remaining charges taken into consideration.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Eunice Lau said a 34-year-old teacher was going up the escalator with her mother and son at Yishun MRT Station on Sept 29 when she saw Yap following her immediately from behind and standing between herself and her mother.

The victim saw that he had positioned himself such that his feet were on different steps and that he had placed his mobile phone on his thigh nearest to her, with its camera lens facing upwards. When the victim and Yap reached the train platform, he quickly walked away and checked his mobile phone. He then boarded the train. The victim, who was wearing a long denim top with a pair of shorts underneath, suspected that Yap had taken a video or photo from under her skirt and felt offended.

Before Yap boarded the train, she managed to take a few photographs of him which she forwarded to the Police and SMRT feedback units.

On Nov 8, a police staff sergeant was on duty at Yishun MRT station when he came across Yap and recognised him as a potential "person of interest''. He checked his phone and found more than 30 upskirt video recordings.

Yap admitted to taking such upskirt video recordings from June or July this year. He would review the recordings and delete them if the recording quality was poor.

The other charges proceeded pertained to unknown women at various other MRT stations.

He could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined on each charge.