SINGAPORE - A construction worker who molested a 12-year-old boy in a public toilet was jailed for six months on Wednesday.

Indian national Ravikumar Sathish, 20, admitted using criminal force to outrage the youngster's modesty at a male toilet in Tampines Mall on March 2.

A court heard that the boy had been having dinner with his mother when he went to use the loo.

As he walked out, Sathish bumped into him and grabbed his private parts.

The scared youngster told his mother who called the police.

In his mitigation letter, Sathish said he was his family's sole breadwinner and had an outstanding debt of $7,000 back home.

Pleading for leniency, he said if he was given a fine, his boss would pay for him.

He could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or received any combined punishment.