P'nP extortionist hits again
2003-07-05 16:10
Johannesburg - Pick 'n Pay has been hit again by the poison-wielding extortionist, the supermarket chain and the SA Police Service said in a joint statement on Saturday.
Pick 'n Pay chief executive Sean Summers said: "We received no warning, no communication and no indication. We (had) received no contact from the extortionist for the last 24 days."
"We continue with the heightened security in all our stores nationally.
Traces of non-lethal cyanide were found in two more products bought at Pick 'n Pay - one in Durban and one Johannesburg. One new product had been found to be contaminated.
Pick 'n Pay was recalling the four products nationally - the new product to be poisoned was found at a Durban store. It was the Simba Fritos Barbeque Strip Pack 4's.
There was also a R5m reward offered for information leading to a conviction.
The statement said a tin of No Name Brand Sardines bought at the Pick 'n Pay Kingsburgh, Durban one-and-a-half weeks ago, was opened by a customer and some of the contents consumed.
The customer, who showed signs of food poisoning, reported it to Pick 'n Pay on Thursday, and the contents were urgently sent for analysis. The customer was also examined medically.
"The empty tin had unfortunately been thrown away and could not be recovered," the statement read.
The contents were analysed and the tests released on Saturday.
They confirmed very low traces of cyanide.
Pick 'n Pay and the police said the customer was in good health and blood test results would be available on Monday.
Meanwhile a strip of four packets of Fritos Barbeque chips was bought in Johannesburg's Kensington branch of Pick 'n Pay on Thursday.
It was marked with blue koki pen, but the writing had "unfortunately, by and large, been rubbed off".
A child ate one of the packets and became ill.
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 child was given a medical examination.
The results of tests on this product testing came back on Saturday and confirmed very low traces of cyanide. The child was in good health.
Pick 'n Pay has withdrawn all Simba Fritos Barbeque Strip Pack 4's, all No Name Brand Sardines 120g, all Lucky Star Pilchards in Chilli 155g and all Pick 'n Pay Choice Garlic Flakes Bottle 100ml, nationally as an extra precaution.
Customers were asked to return them anywhere in South Africa to Pick 'n Pay store for a full refund.
Summers said: "We deeply regret what has happened. We are in close communication with the families and are offering every support we can. We continue to be horrified and outraged at what amounts to an all out assault on all South Africans.
"We are offering a reward of R5m to anyone who supplies information to us which leads to the arrest and conviction of this extortionist".
"Someone somewhere knows something. Whoever this person is, we are appealing for you to come forward and let us put a stop to this. If South Africans do not stand up to this type of threat now, all of us will run the risk of falling prey to this again and again."
SAPS national spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Selby Bokaba, said: "We view this development with the necessary urgency and are working hard to get to the bottom of the matter. We urge the public to come forward with information."
Concerned customers may contact the Pick 'n Pay Customer Careline on 0800-11-22-88, operating hours would continue to be 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Anyone with specific information regarding this case is asked to contact
either Pick 'n Pay on 011-455-3843 or CrimeStop on 0860-010111.
- SAPA