A former water polo champion has been sentenced to nine months in jail for forgery and misappropriating funds from the Singapore Swimming Association.

Ten-times South East Asian Games gold medallist Matthew Tan pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzling $53,738 and three counts of forgery.

District Judge Liew Thiam Leng sentenced the 44-year-old, rejecting pleas for a fine from Tan's lawyer, who cited his sporting achievements, various commendations and awards, and grassroots community work, the Straits Times reported.

"I have considered his contributions to water polo and community work. There is also another feature in this case, and that is... an element of trust," the broadsheet reported the judge as saying.

"As an official of the association, the accused acted in breach of trust, and the offences were committed over a period of time. In this case, it went on for about 2 ? years."

Former national coach Tan committed the offences between 2003 and 2005, while he was assistant secretary-general (water polo) of the SSA.

He obtained blank chequanotheres that were supposed to be for SSA purchases, signed them over to himself and used them to pay expenses, settle debts and pay off a car loan.

Although Tan had returned the entire sum to the association, he had still faced a maximum three years in jail for misappropriation and two years for forgery, plus fines, the Straits Times reported.