SINGAPORE - A man who robbed another after he had gambled away his salary at a casino was jailed for 3 1/2 years and ordered to be given 12 strokes of the cane on Thursday.

Malaysian national Suresh Kannan, 33, admitted robbing Indonesian national Witasyah Siah of a bag containing clothes, a passport, gambling chips valued at $65, flight tickets and $20 on June 2.

He had also used a motorcycle helmet to hit the 62-year-old victim repeatedly.

A district court heard that Suresh lost his salary of $3,000 in a game of roulette at the Marina Bay Sands casino on June 1.

He was thinking of leaving when he saw the victim changing money for chips at the cashier and decided to follow him.

At about 5.10am on June 2, Mr Siah left and took a cab at the taxi stand. Suresh tailed him on his motorcycle.

When he arrived at Compassvale Link in Sengkang, Mr Siah took a lift to the 7th floor where his daughter lives. Suresh took the next lift to the same floor.

As Mr Siah pressed the door bell, Suresh approached him from behind and covered his mouth. He then took $20 cash from the victim's pocket, and dragged him away in an arm-lock.

Suresh hit him repeatedly and at least once on the back of his head with his helmet.

He grabbed the bag and fled down the stairs, but was arrested on June 10.

Suresh could have been jailed for up to 14 years with not less than 12 strokes of the cane for robbery.