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International Business Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- International Business Times
Who Was Jane Lee? Singapore Salad Chain Owner Dies After Exposing Alleged Workplace Fraud
July 24, 2025 13:15 +08 Jane Lee, a respected entrepreneur and founder of salad chain Sumo Well in Singapore, died unexpectedly on July 19, just one day after publishing two emotional Facebook posts. In those posts, she alleged that a former employee had staged a fake workplace injury to exploit the compensation system. Her passing, currently classified as "unnatural," is under police investigation, and her final online messages have stirred deep concern across Singapore's business community. X Lee identified the employee as Sran Kiranjeet Kaur, an Indian national, who allegedly reported an injury two days before her contract ended. Lee believed the fall was fabricated, possibly as part of a planned attempt to claim compensation under Singapore's Work Injury Compensation (WIC) framework. She claimed to have video evidence that contradicted the worker's statements and suspected legal guidance behind the move. In her final posts, Lee expressed emotional distress, citing financial vulnerability due to gaps in her business insurance. She described the experience as traumatic and feared other small business owners could be targeted similarly. "I may not be the last," she warned, calling on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and authorities to act. The following day, Jane Lee was found dead. A close friend later suggested on social media that she died by suicide. The Singapore Police Force confirmed an ongoing investigation, while MOM stated that they were in contact with Lee before her passing. Authorities are now working with the employee's insurer to review the legitimacy of the injury claim and warned that any misuse of the system will not be tolerated. Tributes poured in at her wake held at St Joseph's Church, where friends and colleagues described her as kind-hearted and resilient. Her business outlets continued to operate, but the emotional impact of her death remains profound. Many are now urging the government to strengthen protections for small business owners facing legal and financial uncertainty.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Time of India
Singapore businesswoman Jane Lee dies mysteriously a day after accusing Indian-origin worker, her husband of fraud
Jane Lee , a well-known Singaporean businesswoman and the owner of salad outlet Sumo Salad (recently rebranded as Sumo Well), died unexpectedly on July 19—just one day after posting a pair of detailed Facebook updates in which she accused a former employee of fabricating a workplace injury. Her death, currently classified as 'unnatural,' has prompted a police investigation and sparked widespread concern within Singapore's food and beverage community . Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Management healthcare Others Data Science Leadership MCA CXO Finance Degree Technology Project Management PGDM others MBA Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Healthcare Product Management Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Operations Management Design Thinking Data Science Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details In her now widely circulated posts, Lee alleged that the employee, an Indian national named Sran Kiranjeet Kaur, deliberately faked a fall just two days before the end of her contract in an attempt to file a fraudulent work injury claim. According to Lee, the employee had been scheduled to finish work early that day but stayed beyond her shift, later reporting an injury from an alleged fall on an escalator while disposing of rubbish. Live Events Lee was convinced the incident was premeditated. She described the alleged accident as part of 'a carefully orchestrated scheme,' one that may have involved the employee's husband and, potentially, legal counsel guiding them on how to manipulate Singapore's Work Injury Compensation (WIC) system. Lee also claimed to possess video evidence contradicting the injury, alleging the woman moved around normally but exaggerated her condition in front of doctors. Mounting pressure & a cry for help In her final posts, Jane Lee expressed immense frustration, sorrow, and a growing sense of helplessness. She wrote that due to a gap in her business's insurance coverage, she felt exposed and vulnerable to fraudulent claims. 'I feel extremely unfortunate to have encountered this situation,' she wrote. 'I'm deeply saddened—for myself, my husband, and our loyal team—that we are being targeted in this way.' She feared her case might not be isolated, warning authorities that similar schemes could be affecting other small businesses. 'I may not be the last. If this goes unchecked, others could suffer the same fate,' she cautioned in a follow-up message urging the Ministry of Manpower and police to intervene. In an emotional sign-off, Lee apologised to her loved ones and transferred money to her staff before signing off. '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. The next day, Lee was found dead. A person identifying themselves as her friend later claimed on Threads that she died by suicide . The Singapore Police Force has confirmed an investigation is ongoing. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also released a statement saying they had been in contact with Lee before her passing and are now working with the employee's insurer to assess the legitimacy of the claim. MOM added that anyone found misusing the compensation system will be held accountable. A life remembered The news of Jane Lee's death has sent ripples through Singapore's small business and F&B circles, many of whom gathered at her wake held at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah. Those who knew her described her as warm, generous, and committed to her work. A friend from church recalled her as 'kind-hearted and always eager to help,' while former colleagues described her as 'a sunshine girl' who never stopped caring for others—even in distress. One mourner captured the sentiment shared by many, saying, 'She carried everyone's burdens, always putting others first. It's heartbreaking that she didn't feel she could carry her own.' Sumo Salad, which runs outlets at Holland Village and Marina One, remained open for business following her passing. The outlet at Holland Village continued operations as usual on the Monday after Lee's death, according to a report by Channel News Asia. As investigations continue into both the nature of Jane Lee's death and the alleged injury claim, her passing has prompted deeper reflection on the unseen emotional toll carried by small business owners. Many in the community are now calling for stronger safeguards and more responsive support for entrepreneurs caught in legal and financial limbo.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Unnatural death': Singapore woman found dead day after accusing Indian worker of faking injury for compensation; probe under way
Sumo Well owner Jane Lee 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.
