SINGAPORE - A police staff sergeant was jailed for 14 months on Tuesday after receiving sexual favours from a maid arrested for stealing from her employers.

Parthivan Ramaya, 34, admitted three of four charges of corruptly obtaining bribes in the form of physical intimacy and sex from Ms Dwi Sulistiani. In exchange, he recommended lenient treatment for the 25-year-old Indonesian.

The offences took place in January last year at Ang Mo Kio Police Division headquarters, where he was a senior investigation officer, and his flat in Yishun.

The court heard that while interviewing her at the station, he told her of the consequences of her offence and asked if she wanted his help.

She agreed - but he then told her to help him first.

After her statement was recorded, Parthivan said he would help her to return to Indonesia and told her to touch him.

He then groped her buttocks and took her to a different interview room where he hugged and kissed her.

The next day, after administering a warning to the maid, he took her home and had sex with her in the living room. They had sex again while showering together.

The court heard that the maid had sex with him because she thought that Parthivan had been lenient with her theft case as she was only given a warning and not charged.

It was not revealed in court how the staff sergeant was caught.

Pressing for a stiff sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Haniza Abnass said Parthivan had abused his position of trust as a senior investigation officer, adding: "It is necessary to send a strong message to serving officers that such transgressions will not be condoned. If left unchecked, such offences would erode public confidence in our law enforcement agencies."

He could have been fined up to $100,000 and/or jailed for up to five years on each charge.