A man was detained after he apologised to the police and admitted killing a woman at his house in Kampung Tersusun Tasek here on Monday.

Ipoh Police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said the 34-year-old man appeared sane when he came to the Bercham police station at 3.30 pm and told the policemen on duty that he had killed the woman.

"When we arrived at the house, we found the body of the fully-dressed woman with severe face and head injuries, and three of her fingers cut off. A blood-smeared machete was also found in front of the house," he told reporters at the scene.

Initial investigation found that the victim, believed to be a cleaning lady, came to the man's house at 2.30 pm to clean the house.

"During the incident, only the suspect and the victim were at the house," he said.

Sum said the suspect, who is married and has two children, was believed to have been suffering from mental illness.

Further investigation is ongoing.

-- BERNAMA