British expert to help P'nP
2003-07-06 20:08
Police say "it is not too late yet" for the Pick 'n Pay extortionist to come forward regardless of the problems the person might have.
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.
Pick 'n Pay in the meanwhile called in the help of an overseas expert to help with the investigation.
According to Sean Summers, Pick 'n Pay's chief executive, the expert is involved with a British agency that "deals on an international basis with crimes of this nature".
He also said customers should return products, even if they were merely unsure about whether a product was affected. "They can still bring them back," he said.
To date, "a fair amount" of products had been returned, though Summers said he could not provide the value of these products because "at the moment that is not our primary focus".
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.
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.