Sumo Salad owner, 44, attempted suicide 1 day before being found dead, stressed over employee’s workplace injury claim: Coroner’s inquiry

The owner of Sumo Salad, who was found dead at the foot of a Bukit Timah housing block in 2025, had reportedly been under stress over a workplace injury claim made against her.

Despite the insurer paying for some of the worker's hospital bills, she was said to have been distressed over the possibility of having to pay additional compensation, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

The 44-year-old woman had alleged via social media posts on Jul. 18, 2025, that a former staff member had orchestrated a fall to file a false work injury claim.

A coroner's inquiry hearing on Oct. 8, 2026, heard that the woman had initially attempted suicide that same day.

She was sent to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) but later discharged against medical advice.

She was found dead the next day on Jul. 19, 2025.

Mothership understands that a gag order imposed covers the identities of the witnesses in the inquiry, as well as the deceased's residential address.

Attempted suicide

The woman was initially found drunk and lying at Changi Beach at about 3am on Jul. 18, 2025, according to Zaobao.

First responders recounted that she had said she wanted to die and was scammed of money without elaborating further.

She was later apprehended under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act and taken to Changi General Hospital before being transferred to IMH.

The woman was discharged against medical advice that same day.

It was also revealed in court that the woman had visited a hospital psychiatric department in late June 2025 and was prescribed medicine for depression, Zaobao reported.

She told her doctor at the time that she felt guilty because her work kept her away from her children for extended periods, and that her company was also facing difficulties.

However, the doctor at the time did not notice any suicidal tendencies.

Found dead

The next morning on Jul. 19, 2025, the woman went to a public housing block after telling her husband she was going out to exercise.

The husband said this was her usual routine, Zaobao reported.

Residents who crossed paths with her said she looked "normal" that day.

A resident saw her carrying a styrofoam box containing "colourful objects" while taking the lift upstairs.

The woman was later found dead at the foot of the block.

A suicide note was subsequently found on her laptop.

Stressed over workplace injury claim

The woman was reportedly stressed about a foreign worker who had been sending medical bills to her after a workplace injury.

The worker had also said she would be making a claim for total permanent incapacity against her.

She was also worried that the insurance company would not cover the full amount.

Three days before her death, the woman had also emailed the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) clarifying if she had to pay new medical bills.

In another email, she had questioned why the worker was still able to walk normally after her injury.

It was also revealed that after being discharged from IMH, the woman spoke by phone with an MOM official, reiterating her concerns.

She was reportedly told by the official that she should provide more information to the insurance company instead.

According to Zaobao, the investigators have closed the case as a suicide.

They noted that the police and MOM have launched an investigation into the migrant worker's workers' compensation claim, but did not disclose whether the investigation was complete or ongoing.

Helplines

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

• National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)
• National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)
• SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)
• Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)
• HOME (migrant worker): +65 6341 5535 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)
• HOME (domestic worker): +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / SMS / Call)
• SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001 01 4616 | WhatsApp: 8985 5528 (For targets of online harms)
• National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH): 1800-777-0000