RECOVERY

As part of his gambling addiction recovery programme, Mr Tey confessed to stealing money entrusted to him to pay off his debts.

The father of three was released on 2 May after serving a six-month jail term for criminal breach of trust and misconduct. He is now jobless.

The manager of the marine services company said that his boss was impressed that Mr Tey 'dared to admit' to his mistakes.

He said: 'My boss felt Mr Tey would do a better job and work harder than the next person as he'll value the job more, knowing it's not easy to get a job with a criminal record.'

Mr Tey was surprised by the offer.

'It's something I didn't expect,' he said, 'so it's very encouraging. But my main aim is to let other gambling addicts know they can get help.'

Mr Tey said he did not trust himself with money during the first eight months of his recovery. So he handed all his money to his wife.

He said: 'My therapist and I decided I couldn't hold money at all because of my gambling urges.

'My wife would have to meet me to pay for my lunch or to top up my ez-link card (a public transport stored value card).'

Today, his wife still 'controls' what money they have. She gives him $10 daily for his expenses.

SELF-CONTROL

But Mr Tey said he now has enough self-control to walk away from the temptation to gamble.

A favourable medical report was submitted as part of his mitigation plea last October.

In it, a consultant psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health observed that Mr Tey had been 'very dedicated' to the recovery programme for dealing with his 'impulse control issues (pathological gambling)' since January 2007.

The report said: '... as long as he continues with his honesty and treatment programme, the likelihood of his returning to his former lifestyle is slim.'

Mr Tey said that besides the professional counselling and support from his wife, it was attending a self-help group, Gamblers Anonymous (GA), that spurred his recovery.

He said: 'I found hope because I saw hardcore gamblers sustaining their recovery even after three, four years.'

He said GA follows the 12-step programme adapted from the Alchoholics Anonymous programme.

He said anyone wanting to kick their gambling addiction is invited to join their weekly hour-long meetings.

He stressed that GA meetings are not a substitute for professional treatment from the Community Addiction Management Programme at the Institute of Mental Health.

But he said: 'One addict can understand and help another addict.'

Gamblers Anonymous
Where: We Care Drop-in Centre, 620 Tiong Bahru Road (Redhill MRT station carpark)
When: Every Fri, 7.30-8.30pm
E-mail: ga.bennie@gmail.com
Web: www.gamblersanonymous.org