A 57-year-old man was sentenced to one year, seven months, and six weeks in prison after pleading guilty to molesting a woman with mild intellectual disability and schizophrenia. The incident took place at the victim’s home on the evening of December 10, 2025.

Court documents indicated that the victim, due to her mental health conditions, was unable to protect herself from abuse and lacked the mental capacity to consent to sexual acts. The offender, identified as Zaini Ahat, was observed entering the woman’s HDB flat after first speaking with her at the gate.

The victim’s brother discovered the abuse after reviewing footage from a CCTV camera located outside the flat, which he accessed through a mobile application on his phone. According to the surveillance video, Zaini sat opposite the victim, during which time she lifted her top. Shortly before 8 p.m., he closed the front door, turned off the lights, and molested her.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Khong Zi-Wei described the victim’s inability to differentiate between sexual, affectionate, or caretaking touch, stating that she was completely unable to understand or resist the abuse. After witnessing the incident on the live feed, the victim’s brother shouted at her to open the door and promptly called the police, who apprehended Zaini later that same evening.

Zaini was sentenced on September 10, 2026. The prosecution requested a custodial term of one year and seven months, along with an additional six weeks’ imprisonment in lieu of three strokes of the cane, which he could not receive due to being over 50 years old. Under Singapore law, molestation carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison, fines, caning, or a combination of these punishments.

The court’s sentence reflects consideration of both the severity of the offense and the offender’s age, as well as the victim’s vulnerability stemming from her intellectual and mental health disabilities.