3 men demand refund from Jalan Besar restaurant after alleged diarrhoea, owner refuses, cites inadequate proof

Two days after dining at a seafood restaurant in Jalan Besar, three men returned to demand a refund for their S$110 meal, claiming that the food gave them diarrhoea.

They also threatened to report the restaurant to the authorities and take the matter to court, Shin Min Daily News reported.

The restaurant owner refused to refund them, arguing that they could not provide medical proof, and reported them to the police.

Suspicions

Chen, the owner of Hei YaYa Live Seafood & Szechuan Home Cuisine, said the three men had lunch at the restaurant on Mar. 7.

They messaged the restaurant via WeChat two days later to ask for a refund, saying that all three of them were experiencing varying degrees of diarrhoea.

As they only ate that lunch together, they suspected that the food at Hei YaYa was behind their discomfort.

But Chen said she was doubtful.

The men did not order seafood, but simple dishes like beef soup, grilled skewers, and tofu, she told Shin Min.

No other customers that day have lodged any complaints over similar issues.

"If the food really caused them to be ill, typically the symptoms should appear within two to three hours," she said. "They should have informed us on the day itself, rather than two days later."

Insufficient proof

Chen added that the men did not keep a receipt of their bill, and could only show a bank transaction record.

What's more, they could not provide proper medical proof of their illness from a doctor, according to her.

Only one of the three men consulted a doctor online and got a medical certificate, while the other two did not see a doctor at all, Chen said.

She asserted that her restaurant would definitely take responsibility if their food caused any problems — as long as the diner can provide a receipt or proof of their medical treatment, or a medical certificate to show that their discomfort prevented them from working.

Matter of principle

When Chen refused to refund them, the men allegedly threatened to make a complaint to the Singapore Food Agency, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), and the Small Claims Tribunal.

On Mar. 14, they took it further and threatened to take legal action, according to Chen.

Still, Chen did not budge, more on a matter of principle than to defend her restaurant's food.

"If I set the precedent this time, I'm worried that there would be no end to similar issues in the future, so I decided to make a police report," she explained.

She emphasised that her restaurant has always been strict about food quality and has a grade A certificate for food safety.

"If it was truly our fault, we will definitely not shirk responsibility," she reiterated. "But we also cannot accept accusations without proof."

Top images from Canva and Shin Min