A steersman was jailed a week on Thursday for intruding into a woman's privacy by taking two upskirt photographs of her. Lim Khng Seng, 64, admitted to the offence at an escalator of Tanjong Pagar MRT Station on May 3.

A Community Court heard that he had followed the 29-year-old corporate communications manager who was wearing a purple blouse and a denim skirt to the MRT station at Maxwell Road as he wanted to see her buttocks and underwear. He stood behind her on the escalator and took two upskirt photos.

As the victim felt that someone was standing very close behind her, she turned around and saw Lim. He panicked and hurriedly moved his hand, which was holding the phone, towards his pocket.

The victim confronted Lim who tried to escape by running up the escalator. She detained him with the help of a passer-by. Pleading for leniency, Lim said he was learning how to operate his new Nokia phone when curiosity got the better of him. He said he was supporting his sickly wife and a son who owed a loanshark money, and he had to pay the outstanding $20,000 for him. He could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined.