A 44-year-old business owner who died after a workplace injury claim controversy was discharged from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) against medical advice shortly before her death, a coroner’s inquiry revealed on Oct. 8.

The woman, a mother of two, was found dead at the foot of a residential block on July 19, 2025, at around 7 a.m. An autopsy confirmed that her injuries were consistent with a fall from height. Police have ruled out any suspicion of foul play.

According to police investigation officer Ong Hui Xian, the woman had a history of depression and was being treated with medication prescribed in June 2025 at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. On July 17, 2025, she was reported to have consumed alcohol at a beach, where she was later found intoxicated, incoherent, and soaked in water by a police officer in the early hours of July 18. She expressed suicidal intent and was subsequently admitted to Changi General Hospital before being transferred to IMH for psychiatric care.

Despite medical advice to remain hospitalized, the woman and her husband requested her discharge on July 18. She was released from IMH the same day. Her husband stated that although she was quiet after the discharge, she expressed ongoing stress related to a workplace injury claim filed by some of her employees, which she believed to be fraudulent. He reassured her the claim was being handled by the insurer.

On the afternoon of July 18, the woman spoke with a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officer regarding the injury claim. She declined assistance for her employee’s medical expenses but mentioned suspicions that the worker was feigning the injury. The MOM officer advised her to relay this information to her insurer. At the time, the woman appeared calm and composed over the phone. No further details about the MOM’s investigation were made available during the inquiry.

The following morning, before 7 a.m. on July 19, she informed her husband that she was going out to exercise, prompting him to assume she was heading to Bukit Timah Hill, her usual location. CCTV footage showed her entering a lift in the residential block where she was later found. A resident who encountered her in the lift reported that the woman said she was visiting someone in the building and wished the resident a good day as they parted ways.

Her body was discovered shortly after, and emergency responders pronounced her dead at 7:30 a.m. The police recovered her car keys inside the block and traced the vehicle to her and her husband's ownership.

A gag order issued by the court protects the identity of the woman’s next-of-kin, and her business name has not been disclosed. NTU State Coroner Adam Nakoba presided over the inquiry and indicated that findings will be released at a later date.