OUT of frustration brought about by high debts, a resident of Block 458 Tampines Street 42 set fire to a neighbour's laundry in January.

Chua Chee Tiong, 25, was jailed for four months on Monday after pleading guilty to committing mischief by fire.

A district court heard that police set up ambushes after a spate of fires along that street late last year.

At 1am on Jan 2, officers saw Chua burning a shirt and a white uniform hanging outside a 6th floor flat with a lighter.

He was arrested when he returned home. The value of the burnt items was $75.

Police found no evidence that he was involved in the other fires.

Chua, who did not have a lawyer, said he 'got along well' with that particular neighbour.

He had committed the offence out of frustration as he was unable to pay some $30,000 owed to banks and loan sharks.

He said that he was also intoxicated at that time.

Breaking down in tears, he asked the court to impose a short jail term as he is supporting his unemployed wife and two young children. He did not tell the court what he worked as.

In 2002, he was placed on probation for 15 months for making nuisance calls and in 2005, he was jailed seven months for theft and cheating.

For causing mischief by fire, Chua could have been jailed up to seven years and fined.