Hong Kong police have arrested a 63-year-old man in connection with a series of incidents in which bottled soft drinks in supermarkets were allegedly injected with urine. The suspect, who was denied bail, faces charges of “administering poison or other destructive or noxious thing with intent to injure.”
The investigation began in late July after police received reports that bottled Coca-Cola and 7UP drinks in several supermarkets across Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, and Wan Chai had been tampered with. Authorities stated that one incident involved a 9-year-old boy who fell ill after consuming a contaminated drink. Preliminary findings suggest the suspect’s motive was revenge, stemming from an “unpleasant” encounter with supermarket staff.
Following the suspect’s arrest, major supermarket chains in the city, including Wellcome and ParknShop, have removed the affected beverages from their shelves as a precautionary measure. Police identified the man through CCTV footage and other intelligence. While initial tests have indicated the presence of urine in the samples, no other poisons have been detected. The case has been adjourned until October 21 to allow for further police investigation.