Driver jailed for slashing former schoolmate over Facebook post that insulted his mother

Sivabala Murugan Vindan slashed his former schoolmate with a samurai knife over a Facebook post that insulted his mother.

The 25-year-old was jailed for a year on Feb 5 for causing hurt to Mr Ramesh Valaiyapathi after a late-night drinking session at an Orchid Country Club chalet where they had been celebrating a friend's birthday.

According to The Straits Times, Sivala became angry with his former schoolmate when he pulled his chair away when he was about to sit down.

This sparked what Deputy Public Prosecutor Dora Tay described as a "verbal and physical altercation".

Friends stepped in and Mr Ramesh left the chalet and later posted the insult on social media.

When Sivabala discovered the post that insulted his mother, he armed himself with a samurai knife and went find Mr Ramesh, searching each floor for his unit.

After spotting Mr Ramesh in a corridor, Sivabala threw "a few punches" then drew the 80cm blade from its sheath and slashed his victim around his left ear.

Hearing the commotion, Mr Ramesh's mother stepped out of her flat and screamed when she saw what was happening.

A neighbour then alerted the police and Sivabala fled on July 1 of last year.

Mr Ramesh had to go to hospital to get stitched up.

Sivabala's lawyer Mr Kalidass Murugaiyan told the court that his client had been "extremely provoked" by Mr Ramesh's Facebook post, as his mother had been mourning the death of his father in a traffic accident.

The lawyer added, "The accused is not a hardened criminal but a foolish youth who made a mistake early in his life."

Sivabala could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined or caned.