No evidence of fraud or cheating was found in the work injury claim filed by an employee of EatGreen Pte. Ltd., which operates Sumo Salad.

The investigation outcome was announced in a joint media release by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Oct. 13.

In 2025, the late owner of Sumo Salad posted on Facebook alleging that a former staff had orchestrated a fall to file a false work injury claim.

This occurred just before the staff's employment contract ended.

The owner passed away shortly after the posts were made.

MOM said then it would look into the allegations of fraud.

No further action, work injury claims to be processed

According to the media release, as the police had found no evidence to suggest that the former worker had committed the offence of cheating, they will not be taking any further action against the former worker in this matter.

The police had consulted the Attorney-General's Chambers on this.

Given that no evidence of fraud was found in relation to the work injury claim, MOM said that the claim will be admitted and processed by the designated insurer, in accordance with the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA).

The designated insurer had earlier reimbursed the employer in June 2025 for the medical cost and medical leave wages incurred for the work injury up till then.

It will continue to cover the eligible compensation benefits.

Lapse in work injury insurance coverage found

In the course of its investigations, MOM said it also reviewed EatGreen's work injury compensation insurance coverage.

It found that while the company had insurance coverage for the worker's claim, its policy only covered two employees and did not provide coverage for the remaining employees required under the WICA.

MOM said it has issued a stern warning to the company for this lapse under WICA.

MOM explained that the WICA ensures that workers who suffer work-related injuries or occupation disease receive timely financial support, while safeguarding employers' interests through due process and capped compensation limits.

"MOM takes the integrity of this framework seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those responsible for false or misleading claims or circumvention of the framework," the ministry also said.

Late owner was stressed over work injury claim

Sumo Salad's owner, Jane Lee, was found dead at the foot of a Bukit Timah housing block in 2025.

A recent coroner's inquiry found that Lee had attempted suicide on Jul. 18, 2025, the same day she made the Facebook posts regarding her employee's work injury claims.

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

Lee had been stressed about work injuries claim, and had also indicated that she felt guilty about time spent away from her children due to work.

She was found dead a day later on Jul. 19, 2025.

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: 1800 797 7977 or +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)

A Taiwanese businesswoman and influencer's visit to a restaurant has turned sour over a dispute regarding a stained handbag.

According to a series of posts by Anni Miao — the CEO of a cosmetics and health foods wholesaler — on Facebook, the incident took place in May this year, when Miao was dining at Ushigoro S Taiwan.

A stained white crocodile leather bag

During the meal, Miao alleged that staff accidentally spilled two or three drops of wine on her Hermès Kelly To Go, a handbag made from white crocodile leather.

After sending the bag to the Hermès store she had purchased it from, Miao learned it would have to be sent back to France and that the stain could not be fully removed.

Miao alleged that in the ensuing months, her discussions with the restaurant over the stained bag came to naught, with no concrete follow-up on how they could compensate her for her damaged item.

By October, Miao said that her attempts to communicate with the restaurant were either ignored or deflected.

She said if the restaurant did not respond, she would have no choice but to take the legal route.

S$37,000 in compensation

In response, Fujin Tree Catering Group — the restaurant's parent company — issued its own statement on Facebook, disputing Miao's account of events.

The hospitality group claimed that Miao only brought the stain to staff's attention when paying the bill, not at the time of the alleged spill.

The company said that any apology and offer of assistance from staff at the time had been made out of good faith, and did not constitute an acknowledgment that the damage was caused by the restaurant's staff.

They further alleged that Miao demanded NT$930,000 (S$37,294) in compensation for the bag and associated purchase costs.

As they were unable to conclusively verify who was responsible for the stains on the bag, the company declined to compensate Miao.

They also said they were seeking legal advice on the matter.

Miao responds to the restaurant

Miao then responded to the hospitality group in a series of posts on Facebook, denying that she had demanded NT930,000 (S$37,294) in compensation and sharing screenshots from conversations between her and restaurant staff.

She expressed her disappointment that the restaurant had dithered in discussing the matter directly with her until her decision to go public with the matter.

Foreign workers in Jurong are giving away their empty beverage containers to a man and a woman who go around asking for them, Shin Min Daily News reported.

A member of the public tipped the Chinese media off after seeing the man and woman asking foreign workers drinking in public for the containers.

It was believed that they were collecting the containers to receive refunds at the Return Right machines under the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS).

Eligible containers can receive a S$0.10 refund each.

More people asking for containers

Shin Min reported that the man and woman were seen holding plastic bags and asking foreign workers gathered outside the mall if they were done consuming their drinks.

For some, this practice is now commonplace.

One foreign worker said he has encountered at least four middle-aged men collecting containers.

The foreign worker said: "After all, it's only worth a few cents, so it doesn't matter if I gave it to them. I told them that I hadn't finished drinking yet, and that I would hang it on the doorknob of a door after I have finished, and they would come to get it then."

Woman "changed careers"

The manager of a bakery in the vicinity claimed that a middle-aged woman has now "changed careers" and is picking up BCRS bottles and cans outside the mall for a living.

She used to recycle cardboard and beverage cans, the manager added.

According to the manager, the woman said she could earn S$2,000 a month collecting BCRS containers now.

Why hand over containers?

Another foreign worker said those who hand over containers outside Jurong Point might have done so as the walk to the nearest Return Right vending machine might be a distance away.

There is one on the ground floor nearby and another inside the supermarket, he said.

Another foreign worker said he has heard of BCRS, but has not tried returning the containers as he is not very good with English.

He added that he sees middle-aged people picking up such empty containers.

He previously handed over an empty container to a man in his 50s or 60s as he appeared not to have a job.

Other members of the public said the scheme has good intentions, but there are also unintended outcomes.

Other than the mess caused by rummaging through rubbish bins in search of BCRS containers, the Return Right machines have started to smell as containers were not washed first before being returned.

A security officer at a Sengkang condominium was allegedly hit by a resident.

The 29-year-old security officer, Pauline (not her real name), said that she was making her rounds in the early morning of Sep. 18 when she noticed a female resident exercising in the gym without appropriate footwear.

She approached the resident and reminded her about the rules, but the resident refused and continued exercising barefoot.

When the officer requested that she leave the gym, the resident allegedly hit the officer on her arm.

The incident was captured on CCTV.

Police said a 62-year-old woman is assisting with investigations for voluntarily causing hurt to a security officer.

First encounter

Speaking to Mothership, Pauline, said that the incident took place around 5:50am, at The Luxurie, located along Compassvale Road.

Pauline who had only been working at the condo for about three months at the time of the incident, was working the night shift that day.

When passing by the gym during her early morning rounds, she encountered a resident in the gym who was not wearing appropriate footwear.

The resident was exercising barefoot, according to Pauline.

"So, when I saw that, I went up to the gym. I told her nicely, in a proper manner, I told her that, 'Ma'am, you should wear proper shoes to the gym.'"

The resident refused and said she would call Pauline's management, according to the security officer.

Pauline left the scene and returned to her guardhouse.

Second reminder

There, a fellow staff informed Pauline that the resident has to leave the gym immediately.

This prompted her to return to the gym a second time.

"I told her, 'Ma'am, you have to leave'," Pauline said.

The resident allegedly refused in Mandarin.

She later hit Pauline on her left shoulder.

"After that I told her, 'Ma'am, you are not supposed to hit a security officer. I may report you on this matter'," Pauline said.

According to Pauline, the resident did not heed the advice and returned to her exercise.

Pauline said this was her first time encountering the resident.

According to closed circuit television footage shared with Mothership, Pauline could be seen entering the gym and engaging the resident.

About 23 seconds in, the resident slaps Pauline on her shoulder, hard enough to sway the latter. The resident then goes back to exercising.

The video footage had no audio.

Police report made

Pauline then decided to leave, but not before she took down the details of the other residents who were also in the gym at the time.

She then informed her supervisor about what happened, who then raised it up in a WhatsApp chat group which includes the condo management.

Pauline also reported the incident to the police, who told her to go for a medical check-up.

She was given a two-day medical leave by a polyclinic doctor.

Body-worn camera

According to Pauline, she has heard through her supervisor that questions were raised as to whether she was equipped with a body-worn camera at the time of the incident.

Pauline did not have it with her then, and conceded that body-worn camera footage in such an incident is "necessary".

However, she opined that there were three eyewitnesses who saw what happened in the gym that morning.

Furthermore, Pauline pointed out the gym's footwear policy is clearly stated; there is a notice at the gym informing users that they must wear "fully enclosed footwear".

Incident has made doing job difficult

The incident has caused Pauline to doubt if she can perform her job as security officer.

"What if this same incident happen again to me?" she said, adding that she worries about about the next time she has to enforce rules or guidelines.

Her contract with her current employer is ending however, and she will start at a new firm soon.

Condo management says abuse not condoned

Responding to queries from Mothership, Ocean IFM, which is the facilities management agency overseeing The Luxurie, said that it is aware of the incident and has reviewed the available CCTV footage.

It has provided the relevant footage to the police to assist with the investigation.

Ocean IFM also said, "We note that the security officer's body-worn camera was not activated at the material time. As such, we are not in a position to independently verify the full verbal exchange between the parties beyond what can be observed from the available footage."

The agency added that it takes the safety and well-being of frontline service personnel seriously and do not condone any form of abuse, harassment or inappropriate conduct towards such personnel.

Ocean IFM declined to comment further on the circumstances of the incident, explaining that the matter remains under police investigation.

62-year-old assisting police with investigations

Separately, the Singapore Police Force told Mothership that they received a call for assistance at 13 Compassvale Road.

A 62-year-old woman is assisting with investigations for voluntarily causing hurt to a security officer.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Mothership has reached out to the Union of Security Employees for comment.

A car and a van were involved in an accident along Cairnhill Circle on Oct. 12, 2026.

The police said in response to Mothership's queries that they were alerted to the accident at the slip road into Central Expressway (CTE) towards Seletar Expressway (SLE) at about 2pm.

A 53-year-old male van driver and a 51-year-old female car driver were conveyed conscious to the hospital.

The female car driver is assisting with ongoing investigations by the police.

Aftermath of the accident

A video submitted by a Mothership reader showed the aftermath of the accident.

The van was resting on its side on the road and a man was seen climbing out of the vehicle's driver-side window.

Two people were seen rendering assistance.

A photo circulated on Telegram showed at least two other cars before the tunnel entrance.

Two people were seen standing on the road, and a few trees appeared to have been uprooted.

The road into the tunnel, comprising two lanes merging into one, appeared completely unpassable to traffic as a result of the accident.

A plot of state-owned forested land near Seletar South Link has been turned into a garden for growing fruits and vegetables without approval, prompting action from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

This unofficial garden, roughly half the size of a basketball court, is partly hidden and not easily accessible, according to Lianhe Zaobao.

To access the unauthorised garden, one has to walk several hundred metres from the main road and cut through thick bushes.

Many banana and papaya trees have been planted, along with a few pots of vegetables and aloe vera.

In response to Mothership's queries, an SLA spokesperson said the authority has put up notices at the site, asking those responsible to remove the plants and other items there.

Gardening equipment

There were several gardening facilities and equipment in the space.

Trellises were set up likely to support climbing crops, such as gourds and melons.

It appeared people probably collected water for the crops from a large water ditch nearby, as a big ladle, a few buckets, and stools were scattered around the site.

A simple shed was also erected near the end of the garden, storing gardening tools, such as shovels, gloves, and watering cans, in addition to some cleaning items and plastic bags.

SLA's response

The SLA spokesperson said the authority conducted an inspection at the site and found that part of the state land had been used for cultivation without approval.

"We appreciate that those involved may have spent time and effort in tending to the area," the spokesperson added.

However, SLA emphasised that state land is reserved for public use, and cannot be used for personal purposes without approval.

This is meant to ensure that state land is managed consistently and fairly for the wider community.

Unauthorised cultivation also creates practical concerns, the spokesperson explained.

For instance, the placement of containers, structure, or other items may give rise to potential pest or mosquito-breeding issues.

SLA will engage the people involved in the garden to have the unauthorised cultivation and items removed.

Where necessary, it will take appropriate action to address the unauthorised use of state land.

A 38-year-old Chinese national was arrested on Sep. 26 after the police were alerted to a case of shop theft at about 1.15am.

A retail assistant at Swarovski, located in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 3, noticed a bracelet worth S$255.95 missing from a display shelf.

CCTV footage allegedly showed the woman taking the bracelet from its display shelf and leaving without paying.

The bracelet was subsequently recovered from her possession.

Officers from the Airport Police Division were able to identify the woman and arrest her before her departing flight.

She is to be charged in court on Oct. 13, 2026, with the offence of theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. This offence carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.

As the haze situation continues to worsen in Malaysia, all schools in Melaka, Negri Sembilan, and Putrajaya will be closed on Oct. 13.

Schools in several districts in Selangor and Pahang will also be closed, joining Johor, whose state government earlier ordered the closure of all schools until Oct. 16, 2026.

In all other unaffected states — Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Terengganu, Sabah, and Sarawak — schools will operate as usual that day.

This announcement was made by Malaysia's education minister Fadhlina Sidek in a Oct. 12 Facebook post on Oct. 12.

She added that schools that remain open are advised to monitor outdoor activities in accordance with current air quality conditions.

She also urged parents, students, and school faculty to wear protective face masks when outdoors.

Unhealthy air quality

Schools in Melaka, Negri Sembilan, and Putrajaya, had just reopened and resumed normal operations on the morning of Oct. 12 after a previous mandatory closure.

The decision was made after Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in these areas declined to moderate levels for three consecutive days over the weekend, The New Straits Times reported.

But on Oct. 12, 22 of 68 national monitoring stations in Malaysia recorded unhealthy API readings, prompting a new order for school closures, according to Malay Mail.

Under the API that the country follows, the unhealthy range is between 101 and 200.

Johor had the worst pollution as eight areas in the state logged unhealthy readings. Kota Tinggi district in Johor topped the country with the highest API reading of 170.

Previously, Johor's state government announced that all Johor schools would be closed due to the haze on Oct. 8 and 9, then extended the closure on Oct. 12 to 16.

Putrajaya, which hit 146 on Oct. 12, is also known as Malaysia’s federal administrative capital as it is home to the Prime Minister’s Office and several government buildings.

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After finding a baby parakeet abandoned at his door and in bad shape, a 54-year-old private-hire driver nursed it back to health.

Now, the parakeet, which he named Bao Bei (or Baby in Mandarin), rides in the passenger seat of his car, to the delight of his customers.

Injured and abandoned

Speaking to Mothership, the driver, Low Chee How, 54, shared that Baby was found abandoned at his door one day.

He does not know who left it there, but surmised that the person must have noticed that he kept birds at home.

It was injured and one of its eyes was transparent, Low recalled.

"It was very weak," he said.

Its nose was also bleeding.

Low nursed the parakeet back to health, treating it with medicine bought from a shop.

However, Baby's injured eye never recovered.

Work companion

Three months later, the green parakeet rides in Low's passenger seat, accompanying him and his passengers on their journeys.

Baby calmly perches on the rim of a white bin, placed inside a paper bag on the passenger seat of Low's Honda Shuttle Hybrid.

During the car ride with Low, the parakeet shuffled left and right in order to keep his balance.

Occasionally, it would chirp.

Low shared that Baby's intention could be discerned through its tone.

When it wants attention or affection, its chirp would sound friendlier.

When it needs its space, it would make it clear, Low pointed out.

Parakeets tend to get lonely

When asked why, out of all his birds, Baby gets to tag along for work, Low explained that parakeets tend to need more companionship.

"Unlike the birds that sing, parakeets get lonely when they are left alone," the 54-year-old said.

Low's passengers are generally receptive to Baby being in the car as well, and most would ask if they can take a video of the bird.

Low has been a cab driver for over 10 years, since before the advent of ride-hailing apps.

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The National Environment Agency (NEA) will begin a two-year pilot programme for ferry services to facilitate sea burials from the second half of 2027.

According to an Oct. 12 press statement by NEA, the pilot ferry service will operate weekly from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal.

The service, to be managed by an operator appointed by NEA, will accommodate multiple groups on a single vessel.

It aims to offer a cost-effective alternative for families seeking more accessible sea scattering options.

A fee of S$50 per application applies.

Changing demographics and demand

NEA said that the pilot comes in response to the growing demand for ash scattering as the cremation numbers in Singapore increase — about 82 per cent of those who pass away in Singapore are cremated.

These numbers are bolstered by Singapore's ageing population and subsequently a greater need for after-death services.

Notably, annual deaths are projected to increase from about 26,500 in 2025 to about 40,000 by 2040.

In 2021, inland ash scattering (IAS) was introduced.

Its prevalence has grown over time, with NEA stating that the proportion of cremations where ashes were scattered at IAS facilities rose from about 7 per cent in 2022 to about 12 per cent in 2025.

This growing preference for ash scattering has led NEA to explore additional options to meet public needs.

NEA also cited a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) which found that 42 per cent of respondents indicated a preference for ash scattering as opposed to storing their cremated remains.

Of these respondents, 15 per cent preferred IAS while 27 per cent preferred sea scattering.

Chew Ming Fai, the Deputy CEO and Director-General of Public Health for NEA, said that the agency is committed to providing more options for people making after-death arrangements for their loved ones. 

He added that the pilot will not only make the scattering of ashes at sea more accessible, but also allow NEA to better understand demand and shape the service to meet the public's needs.

While the two-year pilot runs, NEA will look at uptake and gather feedback to assess the long-term viability of the service.

More details will be made available ahead of the commencement of operations in 2027.