A 50-year-old woman who has been charged with seven counts of contamination over the strawberry needle incidents that sparked a crisis in Australia, has been told it is too soon to apply for bail.
My Ut Trinh, 50, was arrested in Brisbane on Sunday, two months after the discovery of needles prompted copycat cases and led to supermarkets removing strawberries – and needles – from shelves. Farmers were forced to dump tonnes of strawberries and prices plunged, as foreign and local demand plummeted and health authorities issued warnings.
Trinh appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday after being charged with seven counts of contamination of goods — between September 2 to 5 — with intent to cause economic loss.
The court heard she was allegedly motivated by spite and revenge when she inserted needles into strawberries.
It is understood that Trinh, a former refugee who arrived in Australia by boat more than two decades ago, worked at the Berry Licious/Berry Obsession farm in southeast Queensland.
It is alleged she had grievances about her treatment at work.
According to 7 News, Trinh allegedly told others she “wanted to bring them down” and “put them out of business.”
Police told the court that the woman’s DNA was found in a punnet of strawberries in the state of Victoria.
Superintendent Jon Wacker, from Queensland Police, said there were 186 reports of sewing needles found in strawberries, including 77 in Queensland. Fifteen were found to be hoaxes. Sixty-eight strawberry brands were affected, including 49 in Queensland, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The woman will remain in custody until her next hearing later in November.