SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower reported that the employer in the Sumo Salad work injury case was reimbursed for medical bills on Jun 26-27, 2025, amid ongoing investigations into a potential fraudulent claim linked to the death of the eatery’s owner, Ms Jane Lee. While no signs of fraud have been found by the insurer, investigations continue into both the work injury claim and Ms Lee’s unnatural death.
Timeline of the Sumo Salad case
Jun 6, 2025: A work injury accident allegedly took place at Sumo Salad. The employer subsequently filed the work injury incident report with MOM.
Jun 26 and 27, 2025: The insurer reimbursed the employer fully for medical bills and medical leave wages submitted up to that point. The employer was notified.
Jul 18, 2025: The owner of Sumo Salad, Ms Jane Lee, published two Facebook posts about a foreign employee who allegedly filed a false work injury claim to get compensation.
Jul 19, 2025: Ms Lee died, according to her obituary.
Jul 21, 2025: MOM said it has been looking into the false work injury claim and is working with the insurer to assess the claim’s validity. It also said it was in communication with Ms Lee before her death. The Singapore Police Force said it was investigating Ms Lee’s unnatural death.
Jul 24, 2025: Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash reiterated that the ministry was probing the matter and working with the insurer.
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Singapore private investigators see spike in work injury claim cases; NGOs warn against generalisations
AROUND 12 CLAIMS REFERRED YEARLY FOR SUSPECTED FRAUD
MOM said about 28,500 work injury claims are filed each year, and compensation is paid out for around 26,800 claims a year.
Insurers refer about 12 claims a year for MOM to investigate potential work injury compensation fraud.
The ministry said WICA imposes caps on compensation to limit employers’ financial liability and protects employers against sudden large payouts due to work injuries.
At the same time, it gives workers social protections by providing a low-cost and expeditious route for…
