Open verdict on 80-year-old man with dementia found dead in Hougang drain: Coroner

SINGAPORE — On New Year's Day this year, William Leck Swe Chua, 80, visited a car park in Defu Lane, in an area where, in his younger days, he hung out with colleagues from the funeral parlour where he worked.

By this time, his deteriorating dementia meant that he could recall only events long in the past, not recent events.

On Jan 3, Leck was found dead in a drain near Defu Lane.

On Friday (Nov 4), Coroner Adam Nakhoda gave an open finding on Leck's death, stating that there was no evidence of foul play. His cause of death could not be ascertained as his body had decomposed.

Leck had gone missing from his home in Hougang two days earlier, on Jan 1. He had wandered off from his home on two previous occasions, but had found his way home both times.

Sharing a summary of his findings, Mr Nakhoda said that Leck had been diagnosed with dementia in 2020, which had been progressively getting worse. By December 2021, he had been able to recall only events long in the past.

Beyond that, Leck had no other medical conditions. He also did not have financial issues, nor had he expressed suicidal thoughts.

The coroner said Leck's cause of death could not be ascertained as his body had been in a state of decomposition when found.

On Jan 1, Leck left his home sometime after Madam Yap, who had lived with Leck for more than 10 years, left for work at 5am. The coroner did not state the nature of Mdm Yap’s relationship with Leck nor give her full name, age and occupation.

When Mdm Yap returned home at around 2.50pm that day, she realised that he was not home and called him. Leck answered that he was at a nearby temple. 

However, Mdm Yap was unable to find him at the temple and called him again. This time, he told her he was at a traffic light but was unable to provide any details. 

When she called for a third time, he did not say a word.

“Mr Leck’s responses on the phone demonstrated that he was likely disoriented at the time,” said Mr Nakhoda.

CCTV footage in Defu Lane later recorded Leck entering and leaving six times the car park on Jan 1 where he seemed “disorientated”. He had been seen washing his hands in a puddle, said Mr Nakhoda. 

The coroner also added that Leck’s niece had heard during Leck’s funeral from his old friend that Leck used to hang out at the Defu Lane car park with his colleagues when he was younger and was working at a funeral parlour.

Leck’s family was not present at Friday's hearing.

The elderly man had removed his bermudas, wallet and phone prior to entering the drain, but Mr Nakhoda said it is unclear why he did so, or how he entered the drain.

Mr Nakhoda said that Leck had entered the drain sometime after 6.17pm on Jan 1.

Heavy rain on Jan 2 meant that "the force of water in the drain had carried his body and perched him against the (drain) gate where he was found".

There was no external or internal trauma to Leck’s body, he added. Leck was pronounced dead on Jan 3.

Chinese language news outlet Shin Min Daily News had previously reported that Leck lived at Block 313 Hougang Avenue 5, which is about a 20-minute walk from where he was found.