P'nP, police meet over threats

2003-07-01 14:47

Johannesburg - Pick 'n Pay representatives and police were meeting early on Tuesday afternoon to discuss threats made by a person who has attempted to extort money from the supermarket giant.

"Everyone is in a meeting," said a spokesperson at Pick 'n Pay. A statement would be released immediately after the meeting.

Earlier in the day police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said it was hoped the results of forensic tests done on the contents of two food tins taken from Pick 'n Pay would be available on Tuesday.

Pick 'n Pay revealed at the weekend it had been the victim of a seven-week extortion campaign.

On May 13 the company received a parcel by insured post containing a 120g can of No Name Brand Portuguese sardines, a Pick 'n Pay Choice garlic flakes bottle and a 155g can of Lucky Star pilchards in chilli.

Accompanying the parcel was a letter informing the company that the items had been poisoned and that unless the instructions were followed, similar items would be placed in stores.

A Pick 'n Pay spokesperson who asked not to be named said tests had confirmed that the contents of the tins in the parcel had been poisoned.

The company had been asked not to reveal the toxin used, company CEO Sean Summers said on Monday.

It was still waiting for the results of tests on a tin of sardines, one of which was eaten by a West Rand woman on Friday. She experienced a "strange" taste, and then read the packaging which she then saw had been clearly marked with a pen: "Poisonous, do not consume, contact Pick 'n Pay immediately".

Also being tested was a tin taken from a shelf at the company's Boksburg store on June 10 after the company received a 20-second phone call from the extortionist informing it of the tin's exact location. The can - also sardines - was clearly marked in the same way as the West Rand one.

- SAPA