"MOM will not hesitate to take parties found culpable for abusing the WIC system to task."
MOM looking into alleged fraudulent work injury claim against Sumo Salad; police investigating owner's death
The salad eatery's owner, Ms Jane Lee, died after making two Facebook posts about an employee who allegedly faked a workplace injury to seek compensation from the company.
Jane Lee was the owner of Sumo Salad, which rebranded as Sumo Well. (Photos: Facebook/Jane Lee, CNA/Davina Tham)
21 Jul 2025
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Monday (Jul 21) it was looking into an alleged fraudulent work injury claim made against EatGreen, the operator of eatery Sumo Salad.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) also said that investigations were ongoing into the unnatural death of Ms Jane Lee, Sumo Salad's owner.
Ms Lee, who was in her 40s, died on Saturday after making two Facebook posts about an employee who allegedly faked a workplace injury to seek compensation from the company.
"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," Ms Lee wrote in one post on Friday.
"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."
Ms Lee, a mother of two, added that she believed this was "a carefully orchestrated scheme" that the employee planned with the employee's husband.
"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," she said in the post.
Ms Lee said she had video footage contradicting the employee's claim about being injured, and had seen the woman moving around normally.
"However, her behaviour changes dramatically in the presence of others, especially doctors, where she exaggerates her condition and limps to feign serious injury," she wrote.
In another post published shortly after, Ms Lee urged MOM and the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
"I fear that I will not be the last victim, and these individuals may continue to exploit other unsuspecting small businesses in similar ways," she wrote.
She also apologised to her employees for the situation and said she had transferred some 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," she wrote as she concluded the post.
MOM said that it had been in communication with Ms Lee, and that its investigations into the claim are ongoing.
The worker involved was covered under the Work Injury Compensation (WIC) Act, and MOM is working with the employee's insurer to "assess the validity of the case", it said.
"MOM will not hesitate to take parties found culpable for abusing the WIC system to task. Employers can approach MOM for help if they have concerns over fraudulent claims by their employees," the ministry added.
MOM also extended its condolences to Ms Lee's family.
Sumo Salad, a salad chain which rebranded as Sumo Well, has outlets in Holland Village and Marina One. When CNA visited the Holland Village outlet on Monday afternoon, staff said it had opened for business as usual that day.
Sumo Salad owner Jane Lee's wake at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah on Jul 21, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Davina Tham)
"ONE OF THE MOST KIND HUMAN BEINGS"
When CNA approached the tentage of the wake at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah to ask mourners for comment, this reporter was asked to leave the area and give the family space.
Attendees who were entering and leaving the wake shared their memories of Ms Lee, unfailingly describing her as kind and helpful to those around her.
"She always came across as a very friendly, joyful person. Very kind-hearted. Always very eager to help," said Ms Karen Loh, 52, who got to know Ms Lee from church.
Ms Lee, who moved to Singapore from Malaysia, was also hardworking and hospitable and treated her staff well, said Ms Loh.
Former colleague Irene Ho, 46, described Ms Lee as "a sunshine girl".
Ms Ho said she had called Ms Lee on Friday night because she was concerned after reading her Facebook posts. They had a brief conversation.
"(It's) a bit shocking that this had happened because when I spoke to her on Friday, I really thought that she was okay," said Ms Ho.
"Probably if she had sounded not that okay, I would have asked more ... I really took it at face value that she was fine," she added.
Mr Kenneth Tan, another former colleague, said that based on Ms Lee's final Facebook posts, she was still taking care of her employees despite the stress she was under.
"She's basically carrying everybody's load and has a heart for everybody else first," the 59-year-old said.
Mr Tan, a company director, added that owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises faced a lot of stress from costs, and he hoped more in such a "hidden type of situation" would get support and find out where to seek help.
Mr Zak Lo, a member of Singapore Tenants United for Fairness (SGTUFF), did not know Ms Lee personally, but was at the wake to express condolences as a fellow business owner.
"The SGTUFF community is deeply saddened by her unfortunate passing. I am here to lend our support and offer our condolences," the 47-year-old said.
Hawker Melvin Chew, also 47, got to know Ms Lee during the COVID-19 pandemic. He founded the Hawkers United – Dabao 2020 Facebook group to assist hawkers and food and beverage business owners during that time.
Ms Lee was one of the earliest members of the group, he said. The group now has more than 332,000 members.
Mr Chew said Ms Lee was an "extremely helpful lady" who would always support or give anonymous donations when there were posts in the group about hawkers and F&B business owners in need of help.
He said she had told him many times that being in the F&B industry was difficult because of rent and manpower issues, but she worried about her employees losing their livelihoods if she closed her business.
Mr Chew recalled that when he was in quarantine in a hotel during the pandemic, Ms Lee sent him salad and checked if he needed anything almost every day.
He described her as "one of the most kind human beings" he has ever met.