‘Unnatural death': Singapore woman found dead day after accusing Indian worker of faking injury for compensation; probe under way
A Singaporean woman died last week, just a day after she publicly accused an Indian employee of faking a workplace injury to claim compensation.
Jane Lee, the owner of local food outlet Sumo Salad (now rebranded as Sumo Well), had posted two detailed accounts on Facebook describing what she believed was a fraudulent scheme.
In her Facebook posts, Lee alleged that the employee had staged an incident just two days before her employment contract ended. "Just two days before her contract ended, she staged an incident – claiming to have slipped and fallen while taking the escalator to dispose of rubbish," Lee wrote.
According to Lee, the employee had been scheduled to leave work early that day but intentionally stayed back.
"On that day, she was supposed to leave work early, but she deliberately stayed back.
It became clear to me that the accident was premeditated, likely as an attempt to file a false work injury claim."
Lee further claimed the incident was "a carefully orchestrated scheme" involving the employee's husband and said she had video evidence that contradicted the injury claim. "However, her behaviour changes dramatically in the presence of others, especially doctors, where she exaggerates her condition and limps to feign serious injury."
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
She added: "I feel extremely unfortunate to have encountered this situation. I am deeply saddened – for myself, my husband and our dedicated staff – that because of an unfortunate gap in our insurance coverage, we are now being targeted by what I believe to be a fraudulent scheme."
In a follow-up post, Lee urged authorities to look into the case, saying, "I fear that I will not be the last victim, and these individuals may continue to exploit other unsuspecting small businesses in similar ways."
Before concluding her post, she apologised to her employees and revealed she had transferred funds to them. "To my beloved family and children, I'm truly sorry that I couldn't find the strength to face this battle on my own."
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed that investigations are ongoing into what has been classified as an 'unnatural death.' Separately, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Monday that it is looking into a possible fraudulent work injury claim involving the eatery, reported Singapore-based media outlet Channel News Asia (CNA).
MOM confirmed that it had been in communication with Lee prior to her death and that the worker in question is covered under the Work Injury Compensation (WIC) Act. It is currently working with the employee's insurer to assess the validity of the claim. 'MOM will not hesitate to take parties found culpable for abusing the WIC system to task,' the ministry said, adding that employers facing similar concerns should reach out for support, as reported by CNA.
The workplace in question, i.e. Sumo Salad, operates outlets in Holland Village and Marina One. CNA reported that the Holland Village location was open for business as usual on Monday.
Lee's wake was held at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah. Attendees remembered her as warm, hardworking, and generous. "She always came across as a very friendly, joyful person. Very kind-hearted. Always very eager to help," said a friend who knew her from church.
Former colleagues described her as 'a sunshine girl' and someone who remained concerned for others even amid personal distress. One ex-colleague, who spoke to her by phone after seeing her Facebook posts, said: "(It's) a bit shocking that this had happened because when I spoke to her on Friday, I really thought that she was okay."
Others, including members of Singapore's F&B and small business communities, turned up at the wake to pay respects. Many highlighted the mental and emotional toll that business owners quietly endure.
"She's basically carrying everybody's load and has a heart for everybody else first," one mourner said.
MOM expressed its condolences to Lee's family and reiterated that investigations were still underway.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
8 minutes ago
- Hans India
TN school teacher booked under Goondas Act for sexually abusing over 20 students
A government school teacher in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district has been detained under the stringent Goondas Act after being accused of sexually abusing more than 20 students. The accused, M. Senthil Kumar (50), a resident of Iduhatty near Udhagamandalam, was working as a science teacher in a government school when the allegations came to light. Senthil Kumar, who has served as a teacher for more than 23 years in various government schools across Tamil Nadu, had only recently been posted to the Nilgiris. The disturbing revelations emerged during an awareness programme conducted by the district police to educate students about sexual harassment and abuse. During these sessions, several students reported that their teacher had been sexually assaulting them since his appointment at the school. Following the students' complaints, the police registered a case against Senthil Kumar under Section 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was also booked under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as some of the victims belong to marginalised communities. Senthil Kumar was arrested earlier this month and remanded to judicial custody. In view of the serious nature of the offences and the potential threat posed by the accused, Nilgiris Superintendent of Police N.S. Nisha recommended detention under the Goondas Act -- a preventive measure used against habitual offenders and those considered a danger to public order. Acting on the recommendation, the District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru approved the order, and served the orders to Senthil Kumar, who is already lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison. The police have now widened the scope of their investigation to include the schools where Senthil Kumar had previously worked. Authorities are trying to determine whether similar offences were committed in his earlier postings. Officials have urged any additional victims to come forward as part of the ongoing inquiry. The case has sent shockwaves across the Nilgiris district, prompting calls for stricter background checks and surveillance mechanisms within educational institutions to ensure student safety.
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
‘Dog Babu' issued residence certificate in Bihar's SIR process, DM orders probe
Amid the confusion among people over the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls in Bihar that got over on July 25, a canine named 'Dog Babu' was issued a residence certificate in Masaurhi area of Patna district from the State RTPS (Right to Public Service) portal. The residence certificate was required by the Election Commission (EC) among 11 certificates as proof for inclusion in the electoral rolls during SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. State assembly polls in Bihar are due in October-November later this year. Later, Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S.M. said the certificate has been cancelled and ordered a probe into it with a report sought within 24 hours. Assuring this, he said action will be taken against the employees and officials found guilty. 'The matter is very serious and some mischievous elements have made such an attempt. The certificate was issued on July 24 at 3.56 p.m. and it was immediately cancelled within two minutes at 3:58 pm,' the DM said while speaking to the media on Monday. The Masaurhi Sub-Divisional Magistrate has submitted his report in which it was found that the application for the 'residential certificate was submitted with Aadhar card of a Delhi-based woman and action will be taken against all guilty officials and employees'. Golden retriever The residence certificate (No: BRCCO / 2025/ 15933581) issued in the name of 'Dog Babu' has the photograph of a golden retriever, his father's name is mentioned as 'Kuta babu' and mother's name as 'Kutiya Devi' and he is listed as a permanent resident of 'Mohalla: Kaulichak, Ward No: 15, Post Office: Masaurhi, Pin Code: 804452, Police Station: Masaurhi, Block: Masaurhi, Division: Masaurhi, District: Patna, State: Bihar'. The certificate was issued on July 24, a day before the SIR exercise of electoral rolls was over. The certificate was issued from the State RTPS (Right to Public Service) portal, which is an online platform established by the Bihar government to provide various public services to its citizens. It is part of the e-District mission mode project under the National e-Governance Plan. The portal enables citizens to apply for and access essential services like caste, income and residence certificates online, streamlining the process and ensuring timely delivery. The issued certificate bears digital signature of Revenue Officer Murari Chauhan. When the residence certificate issued in the name of 'Dog Babu' went viral on social media on Monday with several cryptic comments following it, the Patna district administration in a social media post said that an FIR has been registered against the applicant, the computer operator and the officer who issued the certificate. Earlier, social activist and Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav took a dig at the residence certificate issued in the name of a dog in Patna in a social media post in which he said: 'Look at this through your own eyes that a dog gets his residential certificate done in Bihar on July 24th and this is the same certificate considered by Election Commission for SIR of electoral rolls in the state while Aadhar and Ration cards are being called fake'.
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka High Court refuses to entertain govt. appeal filed after 381 days against acquittal of six persons for insulting Scheduled Caste person
Stating that there is a clear bar in the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to entertain an appeal beyond 180 days after the pronouncement of verdict by trial courts, the High Court of Karnataka has refused to entertain an appeal filed by the State government after 381 days. '...the framers of legislation have made a proviso wherein there is a total bar for entertaining the appeal after 180 days. Therefore, in view of the statutory bar, the delay of 381 days in filing the appeal cannot be condoned,' the court said. Justice V. Srishananda passed the order while dismissing an appeal filed by the State government against the September 7, 2023 verdict of a sessions court in Yadgiri district, acquitting six persons from the charges of insulting a member of the SC community in public view and other offences alleged to have been committed in 2014. The State Public Prosecutor (SPP) had argued that taking away the right of appeal only on the ground of technicality would be harsh in a given case and substantial justice would be denied to a complainant only on the technical ground of limitation of 180 days. However, the court pointed out that Section 14-A(2) of the 1989 Act provides only 90 days to file an appeal before the High Court against the judgement of the trial courts while granting liberty to the HC to condone the delay, after the expiry of the period of 90 days if it [HC] is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within 90 days. As a provision to Section 4(3) of the Act makes it clear that 'no appeal shall be entertained after the expiry of the period of 180 days', the court said that it has no jurisdiction in law to entertain the appeal after 180 days. Meanwhile, the court said that it would be open for the SPP to bring to the notice of the State legislature on requirement to amend the statute, if need be, to provide a remedy for a litigant in such circumstances, where the delay occurs on account of the reasons that are not attributable to a negligent litigant, but on account of bonafide reasons.
