SINGAPORE - A former food court manager was sentenced to six months in jail on Monday for misappropriating almost $17,000.

Between July 1 and 5, Ow Boon Hong, 46, pocketed takings he had collected from stall operators at the Koufu food court at Block 511 Canberra Road for his personal use.

He pleaded guilty to committing criminal breach of trust by dishonestly misappropriating $16,946.65 in all, which he should have deposited into Koufu's bank account within the day. None of the money has been returned.

Passing sentence, District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said Ow had been placed in a position of trust and should not have taken the money.

Pleading for leniency, defence lawyer Kirpal Singh said his client had taken the money to help pay the bills for two stalls at the food court, which he had personally rented to boost his income but were not doing well.

Ow, a former army regular, is an undisclosed bankrupt and is struggling to support his ex-wife and two teenage children, Mr Singh added.

He could have been jailed for up to 15 years and fined.