An open verdict has been declared in the case of Mr. William Leck Swe Chua, an 80-year-old man whose body was discovered in a drain in Hougang in January. Mr. Leck, who had been diagnosed with dementia, went missing from his home on January 1 and was found dead two days later, on January 3, wedged in a metal grate near Defu Lane 7.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda noted that Mr. Leck’s dementia had worsened significantly by late 2021, leading to disorientation and memory loss. While there were no external injuries, the advanced state of decomposition made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death. Foul play was ruled out, but the coroner could not definitively conclude whether the death was due to natural or unnatural causes, leading to the open verdict.

The investigation revealed that Mr. Leck had gone missing twice before but had returned home safely. On the day of his disappearance, surveillance cameras showed him entering and exiting a carpark in Defu Lane multiple times. It is believed that his disorientation led him there, possibly due to memories of the location from his younger years. Heavy rain that evening likely contributed to Mr. Leck being carried into the drain, where his body was later found.

The coroner’s findings provide some closure but leave questions about the circumstances of Mr. Leck’s death, as the exact cause remains undetermined.