Peter Lee Yoke Leong, 43, who used to earn $18,000 a month in a money broking firm until he was retrenched in March 2007, pleaded guilty to misappropriating $78,461 between Feb 2 and June 27, 2007.

A district court heard that as the treasurer of of the PAP Aljunied-Kembangan branch, he was one of the authorised signatories of the branch current account with DBS Bank.

After the 2006 General Elections, the PAP Aljunied-Kembangan branch and the PAP Kampong Ubi branch were merged to form the PAP Kampong Ubi-Kembangan branch.

Lee was tasked to close the PAP Aljunied-Kembangan bank branch account and transfer the residual funds to the Kampong Ubi-Kembangan account.

The court heard that he prepared two cheques - $50,000 and $28,461 - on two separate occasions and misappropriated the funds for his own personal expenses.

His lawyer N.M. Marican said his client, a first offender, was supporting his family and two children.

He urged the court to give him a chance by imposing a hefty fine or a day's jail plus fine or a short custodial sentence in view of his substantial contributions to society.

District Judge Liew Thiam Leng noted that Lee, who had made restitution, was holding a position of trust, and the amount involved was substantial.

Lee could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined for criminal breach of trust.