MOM probes alleged false injury claim at Sumo Salad as police investigate owner’s sudden death

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced it is investigating an alleged fraudulent work injury claim filed against EatGreen Pte. Ltd., the company operating the salad chain Sumo Salad, now known as Sumo Well. This development comes as the Singapore Police Force (SPF) separately investigates the unnatural death of Jane Lee, the eatery’s owner, according to local Chinese news outlet 8world News. On 21 July 2025, MOM confirmed in a statement that its officers had been in communication with Lee before her passing. The ministry emphasised that investigations into the worker’s claim are ongoing, with its officers coordinating with the relevant insurance provider to assess the validity of the reported workplace incident.

Concerns raised over insurance and alleged extortion

Jane Lee, who was in her 40s and a mother of two, died on 19 July 2025, two days after publishing detailed allegations on Facebook about what she described as a “carefully orchestrated” attempt to defraud her business through a staged workplace accident. In her posts, Lee claimed that the employee stayed beyond her scheduled working hours on her last day of employment to create an opportunity for the alleged staged incident. According to Lee’s account, the worker said she slipped and fell while using an escalator to dispose of rubbish. Lee described how she found this suspicious, given the employee’s original plan to leave work early that day. She expressed her belief that the alleged accident had been premeditated to secure compensation through a work injury claim. In one of her final public statements, Lee wrote: “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 alleged that this was not the worker’s first attempt at such a claim and suspected the individual, along with her husband, had deliberately targeted small businesses like hers. Lee suggested the possibility that the couple, who are both from India, might have received assistance from a legal firm to exploit injury claims for compensation.

MOM urges employers to seek assistance if they suspect fraudulent work injury claims

MOM noted that the worker is covered under the Work Injury Compensation (WIC) Act and stated that it “will not hesitate to take parties found culpable for abusing the WIC system to task”. It also encouraged employers who suspect fraudulent claims to approach the ministry for help. In its statement, MOM extended condolences to Lee’s family. In her Facebook posts, Lee mentioned that she had documented evidence, including video footage, which she said contradicted the injury claim. She explained she had personally seen the employee move around freely, cooking and walking normally, only to observe the worker exaggerating her condition during medical appointments. Lee expressed significant concern about how such alleged schemes could harm small businesses, especially those with gaps in their insurance coverage. She warned that if bad actors found businesses without proper protection, they could exploit the fear of financial loss to extort settlements. “If they find one without proper insurance coverage, they instil fear and try to extort money,” Lee claimed in her post, adding that the perpetrators could seek larger payouts by faking more severe injuries or disabilities. Lee’s final messages included pleas for the authorities to investigate thoroughly, fearing that other small business owners could fall victim to similar schemes. She encouraged friends and the wider public to help share her story to raise awareness and protect other enterprises. Tributes have since poured in from Singapore’s food and beverage community. Melvin Chew, owner of Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck, posted a condolence message online, while veteran Singapore food critic K.F. Seetoh shared a personal tribute, remembering Lee’s warmth and sincerity. Seetoh reflected on the emotional toll faced by small business owners in Singapore’s high-pressure environment, though stopped short of linking this directly to Lee’s passing. He urged the community to support one another in times of stress and uncertainty. Sumo Salad, rebranded as Sumo Well, operates at least two outlets in Singapore, including branches in Holland Village and Marina One.