A Malaysian man was fined $3,000 on Thursday for stealing two pieces of $1,000 casino chips from a gambler.

Mong Wai Cheong, 34, pleaded guilty to theft of the chips from businessman Loi Kheng Chin, 49, at a Sic Bo table at Marina Bay Sands casino on May 15.

The court heard that Mr Loi placed two pieces of $1,000 chips on the "small'' betting area at the Sic Bo table. He left for the next table to gamble.

Just then, Mong saw the $2,000 cash chips and grabbed them. He left the casino but returned later to cash out the chips and left again.

When the victim found that he had won but his chips were missing, he reported to the supervisor.

Mong's identity was established a week later through closed-circuit television footage. A Police Gazette was issued against him and he was arrested at Woodlands checkpoint the same evening. He could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined.