Tragic Death Follows Workplace Fraud Allegations

In a tragic turn of events, a Singaporean woman named Jane Lee passed away on Saturday, just a day after making serious allegations on Facebook against an Indian employee. Ms. Lee, who owned the eatery Sumo Salad, accused Sran Kiranjeet Kaur, an Indian worker, of faking a workplace injury to claim compensation. Her sudden death has prompted the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to launch an investigation, treating it as an “unnatural death.” Ms. Lee was in her 40s and leaves behind two children.

Allegations of Staged Accident

According to Ms. Lee’s Facebook posts, she alleged that Ms. Kaur staged an accident by pretending to slip and fall while using an escalator to dispose of rubbish. This incident allegedly occurred just two days before Ms. Kaur’s employment contract was due to end. Ms. Lee claimed that the accident was premeditated to file a false work injury claim for compensation.

Claims of Conspiracy and Legal Manipulation

Ms. Lee further alleged that Ms. Kaur orchestrated the scheme with her husband and the assistance of a legal firm that purportedly coaches individuals on exploiting injury claims for financial gain. She stated that she had video evidence showing Ms. Kaur moving normally and only exaggerating her injuries in front of others, particularly medical professionals.

Impact on Small Business Owners

Ms. Lee expressed concerns about the broader implications for small business owners, suggesting that such schemes target those without proper insurance coverage to instill fear and extort money. She warned that if businesses are insured, the aim shifts to securing higher payouts by fabricating more severe injuries.

Call for Investigation by Authorities

In her posts, Ms. Lee urged the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the case. She expressed fears that other small businesses could fall victim to similar fraudulent activities if not addressed.

Official Response from MOM

Channel News Asia reported that MOM is collaborating with the employee’s insurer to assess the validity of the case. The ministry emphasized its commitment to taking action against parties found guilty of abusing the Work Injury Compensation (WIC) system and encouraged employers with concerns about fraudulent claims to seek assistance.