A FORMER police officer was jailed for two months on Wednesday for divulging information on police operations against illegal cough syrup pedlars to a friend.

Chua Kok Heong, 36, was also fined $1,000 - the maximum - for failing to report his friend and ex-colleague, Quek Jin Wee, 34, a runner for an illegal 4D collector, for collecting lottery.

The then a senior staff sergeant attached to the divisional intelligence branch of Bedok Police Division pleaded guilty to the two charges and had a third taken into consideration.

A district court heard that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau received information in November 2006 that one Ivan Loh, a big time cough syrup supplier in Geylang, had bribed officers in return for protection and tip-off in his illegal business. Loh had been supplying cough syrup in Lorong 13 Geylang and owned a tattoo shop where Quek worked as a tattoo artist.

Chua came to know Quek in 1992 to 1993 when they were working in the same neighbourhood police post.

The two continued to keep in touch after Quek left the police force.

In 2006, Chua came to know that Quek was working as a runner for an illegal 4D collector but kept mum about it.

On Oct 31 that year, while Chua was involved in a joint operation to flush out illegal cough syrup pedlars, he told Quek about it at his shop.

Unknown to Chua, Quek subsequently informed Loh about the police operation. Loh then told his men not to sell cough syrup in Geylang that day.

Although several cough syrup pedlars were arrested, none had links with Loh, the court heard.

Chua claimed that even though he shared the confidential information, he did not expect Quek to pass it to someone else.

Pleading for leniency, Mr Amolat Singh and Mr Low Hui Hui, said Chua, who was until lately a driver, had been awarded numerous commendations and testimonials during his 17-year career with the police force.

They described the father of two as a responsible, hard-working and diligent officer, who was unaware of his good friend's connections with those involved in the illegal sale of cough mixture. He also did not expect Quek to betray him by passing the information to someone else.

Mr Singh also told District Judge Eddy Tham that his client did not deliberately tip-off his friend to benefit himself in any way.

Chua could have been fined and jailed for up to six months for neglect of duty. For the other offence under the Official Secrets Act, he could have been fined up to $2,000 and jailed for up to two years.