A 50-year-old man who had asked to be caned to avoid preventive detention was put behind bars for eight years on Wednesday for robbing two Indian national maids.

Murugaian Kandasamy, an odd job worker, had pleaded guilty last month to robbing Madam Vadivelu Manimekalai, 30, and slashing her in the face, neck and arms at a flat in Veerasamy Road on March 10.

He robbed the victim of jewellery worth about $1,000, a mobile phone and cash of unknown value with a woman accomplice, who will go on trial next month.

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