FairPrice beer ad sign falls on woman, 68, leaves her with scratches & torn clothing

A 68-year-old woman was left with scratches on her back after a signboard advertising beer fell on her in Woodlands at the 888 Plaza shopping mall NTUC FairPrice supermarket.

Ad for a beer brand

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the woman's son, surnamed Ye (transliteration), said he was at the supermarket with his family at about 7pm on Nov. 25, when the incident happened.

The 48-year-old said the sign was an advertisement for a beer brand and believed that the sharp corner of the signboard had hit his mother on the left side of her back when it fell.

Apart from the scratches, the signboard also caused her clothes to be torn.

Following the incident, Ye said the manager of the supermarket has spoken to him

According to Ye, the manager asked him to leave his number and also said he would report the incident to his superiors.

The injury to his mother was not serious, Ye said, and she did not seek medical treatment, but simply went home to apply some ointment.

He also asked her to rest for a few days and not cook.

Supermarket offered to compensate for clothes but was turned down

Ye added that the supermarket called him two days after the incident to apologise and offered compensation for his mother's damaged apparel.

However, Ye did not accept the offer.

He said the compensation offer was then raised again twice, first to S$80, and then to S$100.

Ye said he did not think the offer was sincere enough.

He said: "If the signboard had hit my wife's face or my son's head, the consequences would have been more serious."

FairPrice: We are still working to resolve the issue

When a reporter from Shin Min Daily News visited the premises, they were told by an employee that the supermarket was aware of the situation.

In addition, staff from the advertised beer company had also visited the supermarket.

The reporter also noticed that there were other similar signboards in the store.

In response to media queries, a spokesperson for FairPrice said the well-being and safety of customers are their first priority and that they are sorry for the incident.

The spokesperson also said the signboards in the supermarket have been replaced to avoid similar incidents, and it is in contact with those affected and are working to resolve the issue.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News