P'nP: More cyanide found
2003-07-05 22:01
Johannesburg - Traces of cyanide have been found in two more products that were allegedly poisoned in an extortion campaign against a South African supermarket, police said on Saturday.
A joint statement by the South African police and the Pick 'n Pay supermarket chain said two people, one of them a child, became ill after eating the products.
"We are offering a reward of R5m to anyone who supplies information to us which leads to the arrest and conviction of this extortionist," Pick 'n Pay chief executive Sean Summers said in the statement.
The SAPA news agency said the child, who is in good health, became ill after consuming a packet of crisps, bought in Johannesburg.
The child's mother reported this to Pick 'n Pay on Thursday and the remainder of the chips on the strip were immediately sent for testing.
The results of tests confirmed very low traces of cyanide.
A customer from the eastern costal city of Durban, who is also in good health, became ill on Thursday after eating tinned sardines.
The contents of the tin were analysed and confirmed very low traces of cyanide.
Earlier in the week the police announced that traces of above-normal levels of cyanide had been found in a woman who had consumed sardines purchased from a Pick 'n Pay store.
The extortion started in May when a parcel was posted to Pick 'n Pay, containing a tin of sardines, a tin of pilchards, and garlic flakes, with a letter informing them that the products had been poisoned.
It said that unless the sender's demands were met similar items would be placed in stores.
The Pick 'n Pay chain, which has branches in other African countries and in Australia, went public with the matter last weekend.
Pick 'n Pay have confirmed that the person was demanding money.
South Africa's national police spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the police were working hard at the investigation.
"We view this development with the necessary urgency and are working hard to get to the bottom of the matter," he said.
Pick 'n Pay has withdrawn all the affected products from its shelves.