Extortionist 'knows poison'

2003-07-07 08:27

Cape Town - "It is clear that the Pick 'n Pay extortionist knows something about poison because the levels of calciumcyanide in our products were low."

This is the opinion of Pick 'n Pay's chief executive, Sean Summers, because too little cyanide was used to kill someone.

He said the recent discoveries of more products with cyanide aren't the work of copycats.

Pick 'n Pay in the meanwhile called in the help of an overseas expert, to help with the investigation. The expert is involved with a British agency that "deals on an international basis with crimes of this nature".

The supermarket group has received an "encouraging response" after offering a R5m reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the poison-wielding extortionist.

Summers also said that their sales haven't dropped and that Pick 'n Pay aren't experiencing a customer boycott.

The police had also appointed a national detective task team to co-ordinate the cyanide poisoning investigation, according to Selby Bokaba, a spokesperson for the national police commissioner.

The team consisted of detectives and members of the SA Police Service's criminal intelligence services.

Bokaba also made an appeal to the culprit behind the poisoning. "It is never too late to come forward," he said, adding that regardless of the problems the person might have, they should come clean.

Members of the public who wish to provide information about the extortionist can telephone the Pick 'n Pay hotline on 011 455 3843 or CrimeStop on 0860 010 111.

- News24