P'nP: Public 'held hostage'

2003-07-07 21:51

Ina Opperman

Cape Town - "The guy is a terrorist and should be treated in the same way as an airline hijacker."

So says Chris Taylor, who narrowly escaped death after eating a poisoned chocolate bar in 1988, about the person contaminating Pick 'n Pay products with cyanide.

"That's all he is. He's holding the public hostage, the only difference being he's not keeping them in a room."

Taylor almost died in August 1988 when he and his secretary Jeanette de Jonge ate chocolate contaminated with arsenic.

Former Oudtshoorn dentist Marthinus Stuhlinger was charged with attempted murder in connection with the case, but was only convicted of defeating the ends of justice.

Taylor still finds it difficult to walk and suffers from permanent pain in his hands and feet.

"People asked me if I was stupid, eating the chocolate. With hindsight it's easy to be clever, but at the time there was no reason to be suspicious.

"The same goes for the public now. Someone goes to the supermarket and unsuspectingly buys poisoned food. I don't know how the situation can be solved."

Meanwhile all stock of the four products already poisoned have been withdrawn from Pick 'n Pay shelves throughout the country and sent to regional warehouses.

Every single item will be checked for tampering.

- Beeld