Extortionist targets P'nP
2003-06-29 15:41
Johannesburg - Supermarket chain, Pick 'n Pay, has been the victim of an extortion campaign for about the last seven weeks, the company said on Sunday.
Chief executive Sean Summers said various actions and threats had been levelled against Pick 'n Pay and its customers, but did not say what the extortionist was demanding.
He said it was important that the company's employees and customers were informed of the matter for the sake of safety and awareness.
"From the outset, your safety has been of number one importance before all else. We have received advice and guidance from the leading local and international experts and authorities who deal with these issues at a global level," Summers said in a statement.
"A decision was taken to continue dialogue and contact on the basic terms and conditions as stipulated by the extortionist to try and achieve a controlled outcome."
Poison
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.
Summers said that because the extortionist had made a clear statement that customers would not be harmed, the company commenced contact with him on his basic terms and conditions, taking into account the expert advice it had received.
On June 10 the company received a 20-second phone call from the extortionist informing it of the exact location of a can of contaminated No Name Brand 120g can of Portuguese sardines that had been placed on the shelf at a Boksburg store. The can was clearly marked as "poisoned, do not consume contact Pick 'n Pay".
"Within minutes of the phone call, the general manager of our store located the item and removed it for forensic analysis."
A letter subsequently received in the post informed Pick 'n Pay of three items placed in stores and a search was immediately implemented in all the stores, which yielded no further marked items.
'Strange taste'
Summers said that up until Friday, the company had every reason to believe that the man posed no threat to the public. It had also been given strong advice that any public announcement would simply provoke the extortionist.
However, on Friday evening a consumer phoned the Pick 'n Pay call centre saying she had consumed a sardine from a can of No Name Portuguese sardines bought at the Princess Crossing store on the West Rand.
"... Upon experiencing a 'strange' taste, she had read the packaging which had been clearly marked with a koki pen as 'poisonous, do not consume, contact Pick 'n Pay immediately'."
He said the company immediately arranged hospitalisation and informed the doctor and medical staff concerned, as well as her immediate family, of the exact circumstances so that the correct preventive medical action could be taken.
Summers said the woman appeared to have suffered no side effects from eating the product other than emotional stress. The contents of the tin were currently being analysed.
Summers said Pick 'n Pay had improved security and surveillance at all its stores.
"Against this latest development and changed modus operandi of the extortionist, we feel that we need to communicate with you clearly and concisely the basic facts as stated above, as well as the way forward."
To be returned
He said although the activities had been limited to two stores in Gauteng, the company wanted all customers in the province to immediately return three items purchased at any Pick 'n Pay store in Gauteng for a full credit. They are the 120g can of No Name Brand Portuguese sardines with the barcode 600-1007-007-263, Pick 'n Pay Choice garlic flakes bottle with barcode the 600-1007-096-441, and the 155g can of Lucky Star pilchards in chilli, barcode 501-082-1132-007.
"I would like to say again how much we regret this unfortunate chain of events.
"While what has happened is clearly beyond our control, we are absolutely committed to complete transparency with all involved in the Pick 'n Pay community. We know that there will be conjecture or speculation in the coming days, and we will do everything we can to minimise this as far as possible."
Summers said he had provided as much information as he could to ensure the safety of customers, without compromising the investigation.
Updates would be provided as and when more information became available.
Concerned customers may contact the Pick 'n Pay customer careline on 0800-11-22-88 which is now operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It was not immediately clear if the food had in fact been poisoned.
- SAPA