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https://www.9news.com.au/2018/11/12...ylicious-berry-obsession-worker-charged-court
Woman accused of strawberry contamination 'motivated by spite or revenge'
6:00pm Nov 12, 2018
Farm worker faces court over strawberry contamination
A 50-year-old woman, who has been charged over the strawberry contamination scandal in Queensland, will remain behind bars until her next court appearance.
Police arrested My Ut Trinh, a Vietnamese refugee living in Caboolture in Brisbane's north, at a property in Forest Lake yesterday afternoon.
She has been charged with seven counts of contamination of goods which carries a three-year maximum penalty, although authorities will allege the woman’s offences were aggravated, making the maximum penalty 10 years in jail if she is convicted.
Ms Trinh appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court today. She was not granted bail and will remain in custody until she faces court again later this month.
The court heard Ms Trinh, a former supervisor of the Berrylicious farm in Wamuran, north of Brisbane, was "motivated by spite or revenge" and planned the sabotage over several months to get back at her employer Kevin Tran.
Why Ms Trinh was angry with her boss is unclear.
Her lawyer initially applied for bail was the magistrate forced him to withdraw it, in part for her own protection.
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"We believe the evidence is strong," Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker from the Drug and Serious Crime Group said.
Strawberries contaminated with needles were found across Australia in September, sparking a nationwide panic. (Supplied)
"We were provided assistance from Victoria Police in relation to an exhibit that was seized in Victoria.
"DNA evidence will be part of the brief of evidence that we will submit to the court."
The Queensland Growers Association has welcomed the woman's arrest, but also called for copycat offenders to face charges.
Police allege DNA found on a needle in a punnet of strawberries in Victoria had been linked to Trinh. (AAP)
"It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers, and to some extent other Australian fruit growers and exporters," the association said in a statement.
Strawberries contaminated with needles were found across the country in September, sparking nationwide panic that resulted in tonnes of fruit being destroyed.
The first report of contamination was made in Queensland on September 12 when Hoani Hearne swallowed half a needle biting into a contaminated strawberry purchased from a Woolworths store north of Brisbane.
He suffered severe abdominal pain and was treated at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
The strawberry contamination scandal affected growers around the country, with tonnes of the fruits needing to be discarded in multiple states. (Supplied)
Reports across New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia followed.
At least six brands of strawberries, Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious, were recalled and several chain supermarkets pulled all strawberries from their shelves.
Det Supt Wacker today confirmed 230 reports of contamination surfaced across the country, impacting 68 brands – of which 49 are in Queensland.
Of the 230 incidents, 186 included the use of sewing needles and 77 of those were in Queensland. Police believe 15 of the Queensland-based incidents were hoaxes or false reports.
The Queensland government announced a $100,000 reward to catch the culprit or culprits while Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt ordered Food Standards Australia New Zealand to investigate the contamination.
The government also dedicated $1 million to help strawberry growers, some of whom resorted to dumping their entire crop well before the end of the season.
With AAP.
https://www.9news.com.au/2018/11/12...ylicious-berry-obsession-worker-charged-court
Woman accused of strawberry contamination 'motivated by spite or revenge'
6:00pm Nov 12, 2018
Farm worker faces court over strawberry contamination
A 50-year-old woman, who has been charged over the strawberry contamination scandal in Queensland, will remain behind bars until her next court appearance.
Police arrested My Ut Trinh, a Vietnamese refugee living in Caboolture in Brisbane's north, at a property in Forest Lake yesterday afternoon.
She has been charged with seven counts of contamination of goods which carries a three-year maximum penalty, although authorities will allege the woman’s offences were aggravated, making the maximum penalty 10 years in jail if she is convicted.
Ms Trinh appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court today. She was not granted bail and will remain in custody until she faces court again later this month.
The court heard Ms Trinh, a former supervisor of the Berrylicious farm in Wamuran, north of Brisbane, was "motivated by spite or revenge" and planned the sabotage over several months to get back at her employer Kevin Tran.
Why Ms Trinh was angry with her boss is unclear.
Her lawyer initially applied for bail was the magistrate forced him to withdraw it, in part for her own protection.
Related Articles
- Qld farm worker faces needles allegations
- Woman charged over needles in strawberries
- Woman charged over strawberry contamination scandal
"We believe the evidence is strong," Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker from the Drug and Serious Crime Group said.
"We were provided assistance from Victoria Police in relation to an exhibit that was seized in Victoria.
"DNA evidence will be part of the brief of evidence that we will submit to the court."
The Queensland Growers Association has welcomed the woman's arrest, but also called for copycat offenders to face charges.
"It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers, and to some extent other Australian fruit growers and exporters," the association said in a statement.
Strawberries contaminated with needles were found across the country in September, sparking nationwide panic that resulted in tonnes of fruit being destroyed.
The first report of contamination was made in Queensland on September 12 when Hoani Hearne swallowed half a needle biting into a contaminated strawberry purchased from a Woolworths store north of Brisbane.
He suffered severe abdominal pain and was treated at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Reports across New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia followed.
At least six brands of strawberries, Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious, were recalled and several chain supermarkets pulled all strawberries from their shelves.
Det Supt Wacker today confirmed 230 reports of contamination surfaced across the country, impacting 68 brands – of which 49 are in Queensland.
Of the 230 incidents, 186 included the use of sewing needles and 77 of those were in Queensland. Police believe 15 of the Queensland-based incidents were hoaxes or false reports.
The Queensland government announced a $100,000 reward to catch the culprit or culprits while Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt ordered Food Standards Australia New Zealand to investigate the contamination.
The government also dedicated $1 million to help strawberry growers, some of whom resorted to dumping their entire crop well before the end of the season.
With AAP.
