An Indonesian national who attacked three Malaysians in a flat 22 years ago was sentenced to four years' jail and seven strokes of the cane on Tuesday for causing grievous hurt to one of the victims.

Khairul, 45, now a religious teacher, was 24 at the time. He pleaded guilty to slashing Mr Lim Bu Chuan, 23, on the neck at about 2am at a flat in Block 362, Clementi Avenue 2 on Sept 26, 1992.

Mr Lim became paralysed as a result, and died in Malaysia on Feb 9, 1993 from respiratory failure.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Lydia Goh told the court that Khairul had been attending a refresher course in Singapore at the time of the incident.

On Sept 25, 1992, Mr Lim and Mr Cho Chee Hang, then 20, both of whom had befriended Khairul earlier, invited him to their flat to watch television. By the time they got there at 11.30pm, Mr Puah Seng Yap, then 30, was already asleep.

Mr Lim went to bed first while Mr Cho and Khairul watched television and chatted for a while. Mr Cho then went to bed, leaving Khairul in the living room.

At about 2am, Khairul sneaked into the bedroom and attacked Mr Lim.

Awakened by the commotion, Mr Puah saw Khairul squatting beside Mr Lim, but could not recognise Khairul as he had not seen the Indonesian national before. Mr Puah shouted and was stabbed several times.

Mr Cho woke up and tried to help Mr Puah, but was slashed as well. Mr Puah then ran out of the bedroom to switch on the lights in the living room. Khairul managed to flee from the flat and left for Batam.

The victims were taken to a hospital, where Mr Cho and Mr Puah were treated as outpatients.

Khairul was arrested at HarbourFront Centre on June 27 last year while he was leading a group of pilgrims from Batam for their Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca.

The other two charges of causing hurt to Mr Cho and Mr Puah were considered during his sentencing.

He could have been jailed for up to 10 years, fined or caned for causing grievous hurt.