SINGAPORE - Unhappy that his former girlfriend was ignoring his multiple phone calls, a 41-year-old man attacked her with a penknife, slashing her face, throat and wrist.

The assault left her permanently disfigured.

On Thursday (Feb 11), construction worker Palaiyan Murugadass was jailed for four years with nine strokes of the cane, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous hurt by dangerous means.

A district court heard that Palaiyan, an Indian national, had been in a relationship with a 38-year-old Filipino domestic worker since 2013.

She initiated a break up with him in July 2015.

But Palaiyan was unwilling, and began to call her up to 30 times a day. She ignored his calls.

At about 4pm on Aug 23, 2015, Palaiyan armed himself with a penknife with a 7cm blade and waited for his former girlfriend at the void deck of a HDB block in Tampines Street 33, wanting to injure her.

At about 6.30pm, as she was walking under the block, he went up to her and repeatedly told her, "You playing me, you playing me. You will see, I will kill you".

She ignored him and continued walking.

He then slashed her throat, prompting her to push the penknife away and injure her hand.

Palaiyan then slashed her cheek.

As the bleeding Filipina shouted for help, a passer-by called the police.

Palaiyan fled, throwing the penknife into nearby bushes. He took a taxi back to his dormitory.

The victim was taken to hospital, where her windpipe was operated on. Cuts on her hand and wrist were also stitched up.

She was given over a month of hospitalisation leave.

A medical report in December stated that her injuries will result in permanent disfigurement.

Palaiyan could have been jailed for life, or up to 15 years with fine and caning.