A former Queensland strawberry farm employee accused of planting needles in the fruit, sparking a nationwide crisis for the industry, has been told it is too soon to apply for bail.
My Ut Trinh, 50, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates court on Monday after being charged on Sunday with seven counts of contamination of goods – between September 2 to 5 – with intent to cause economic loss.
The first discovery of needles in strawberries was on September 9, and Trinh has known she was a person of interest from the 12th, the court heard.
My Ut Trinh (pictured), known as Judy, could be facing 10 years behind bars because she allegedly expressed she was unhappy with the company she worked for
A two-month police investigation linked Trinh’s DNA to the first discovered needle found in a punnet from Queensland’s Berrylicious/Berry Obsession farm (Pictured is a needle found in a punnet in Gladstone, Queensland)
Trinh’s lawyer Michael Cridland made a bail application but withdrew it after magistrate Christine Roney advised it was ‘premature’ because the motivation behind the alleged contamination was still unclear.
‘The case that was put is that she was motivated by some fight or revenge,’ Ms Roney said.
Trinh, a former refugee who arrived in Australia by boat more than two decades ago, will remain in custody until her next hearing later in November.
Earlier on Monday, Detective John Walker told reporters in Brisbane that Trinh was employee in the strawberry industry in the Caboolture area. She provided staff for the Berrylicious/Berry Obsession farm.
Needles were then found in packets of strawberries nation-wide and the contamination was dubbed ‘food terrorism’
The company is one of many, such as Donnybrook Berries (pictured), that have been forced to scrap many thousands of dollars in stock as frightened customers refuse to buy
Police began investigating in September when sewing needles were first found in fruit, with a further 230 incidents ultimately reported nationwide impacting 68 strawberry brands.
The investigation was not over, with further investigative strategies being undertaken, he said.
If found guilty, Trinh – also known as Judy – could face 10 years in jail.
It was earlier reported that she ‘wanted to bring the company down’ and ‘put them out of business, 7 News reported.
More than 100 reports of tampered fruit are being investigated by police across Australia, many of which are thought to be fake or copycat cases
Needles were then found in packets of strawberries nation-wide and the contamination was dubbed ‘food terrorism’
The day prior to a needle being found in a punnet of strawberries in a Woolworths in Geelong, Trinh allegedly told the pickers at the farm their services would no longer be needed.
Police began investigating in September when sewing needles were found in fruit, with a further 230 incidents reported nationwide impacting 68 strawberry brands.
Forty-nine brands were Queensland-based. In Queensland, 77 incidents were reported. Of those, 15 were believed to be a hoax or a false complaint.
This supplier in Western Australia was another that threw away millions during the scare
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