Mohamad Zakir Jaafar, aged between 51 and 55 during the offences, admitted to raping and molesting a 71-year-old woman with severe dementia over about seven months from June 2022 to January 2023 in her home in Singapore [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The victim was diagnosed with dementia in February 2019 and was assessed by prosecutors as lacking the mental capacity to consent to sexual acts [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. She lived alone and was found lost and disoriented multiple times in her neighbourhood [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Zakir’s wife first encountered the victim lost in June 2022, helped her get home, and informed Zakir about her senile condition [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. About a week later, Zakir met the victim near a mall, noticed her disorientation, and subsequently returned to her flat at least four nights after work to sexually assault and rape her [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
CCTV footage installed at the victim’s home captured at least one assault at about 1 a.m. in November 2022 and another on January 3, 2023 [1]. The victim’s son discovered the abuse after reviewing the recordings [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
In January 2023, the victim scored 0 out of 10 on a dementia test, indicating severe cognitive decline [2, 3, 4, 5]. Zakir reportedly believed he could get away with the crimes because the victim’s dementia would prevent her from reporting them [1].
Zakir pleaded guilty on July 7, 2023, to two charges of rape and one charge of molestation or outrage of modesty. Six other charges, including three related to sexual offences and three for possession of weapons, were to be considered at sentencing [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Prosecutors described the case as "highly egregious, highlighting the victim’s vulnerability and Zakir’s exploitation of her condition" [2].
The case remains before the court with sentencing pending.
