SINGAPORE: A woman who sustained burns and scars all over her body from an explosion at a hotpot restaurant in Beach Road in 2015 has been awarded around S$110,500 in damages.
Thai national Najai Benchawan was only 29 when she suffered the “horrific incident that would change the course of her life”, said a deputy registrar in a judgment released earlier this week.
An exploding gas cartridge in a neighbouring stove at Chong Qing (Origin) Steamboat at 87 Beach Road launched a torrent of hot soup and ingredients towards her, inflicting first and second-degree burns on her upper body and thigh, and injuring her eyes.
Ms Najai underwent surgery and therapy over several months to nurse her wounds and subdue her pain. She gave up her “budding career as a performance artist in Singapore” and eventually settled as a tour guide in her native Thailand.
She then sued the restaurant, its insurer Liberty Insurance and Swee Huat Engineering – the company that supplied the gas cartridges – to recover damages for her injuries.
According to the judgment by Deputy Registrar Vince Gui, Ms Najai came to Singapore on a short-term work permit in 2015 and was a performance artist at Douhan Omesia in Cuppage Plaza.
THE EXPLOSION
On her third visit to Chong Qing (Origin) on Apr 4, 2015, Ms Najai met a friend for supper at around 4am.
Customers were given portable hotpots on portable cooker stoves with gas cartridges to heat up the food.
Ms Najai was going to wash her hands near the end of her meal when her friend told her to have more food so they could leave together.
Minutes later, the gas cartridge of the stove on a table adjacent to them exploded. The explosion launched the soup and ingredients towards Ms Najai, who instinctively raised her hands to shield her face and turned away from the blast.
The hot liquid landed on her face, hands and back, sending a searing pain through Ms Najai. She went to the toilet to douse herself with cold water and was taken to hospital. According to past reports, another four women were injured by the blast.
Ms Najai suffered open wounds and was discharged about 10 days after the blast, returning to hospital for treatment for about six months. She developed permanent keloids over her shoulder and wrist, which she said caused her pain.
The explosion also injured her eyes, with full recovery made on her eyesight only in June 2015.
She was given two months of paid medical leave, but returned to Thailand shortly after.
THE IMPACT ON HER
In Ms Najai’s suit, she said the injuries put her through significant pain and suffering throughout the years, incurring about S$19,500 in medical expenses in Singapore alone.
She said the scars on her face and body prevented her from continuing to work in the entertainment industry, where beauty and image are important.
According to a doctor in Bangkok, Ms Najai said she needed regular injections every month to ease the pain from her scars.
A medical expert testified that Ms Najai would have to live with her permanent scars for the rest of her life, with laser treatment unlikely to yield positive results.
Ms Najai moved to Japan about three years ago, marrying a Japanese man and working as a sales assistant at a clothing store.
However, she did not get fresh employment after giving birth.
Deputy Registrar Vince Gui said he was of the view that Ms Najai “had undervalued her claim”, asking for only S$55,000 in general damages for pain and suffering.
After his suggestion to review the relevant previous cases, Ms Najai revised her claim for general damages to S$70,000.
The insurer, which represented the restaurant in the case, said she should get only S$13,000 in general damages for pain and suffering.
Responding to a submission of damages for burn injuries, Mr Gui said the insurer’s submission of S$10,000 was “outrageously low”.
He said Ms Najai’s burn injuries were “serious and extensive”, with scaly scar marks visible and likely to persist for the rest of her life.
In total, the court awarded Ms Najai S$110,489.38. This includes S$70,000 for pain and suffering and loss of amenities, S$20,000 for loss of earning capacity, and another S$20,489.38 in special damages for undisputed medical expenses in Singapore as well as other medical expenses incurred in Thailand.