POLICE NOT RULING OUT SABOTAGE

Factory manager had reported difference between packets of coffee

POLICE are not ruling out sabotage in the instant coffee case which has landed seven people in hospital after consuming the drink recently.

Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar said this was based on a Feb 1 police report by the manager of the factory that produced the coffee brand.

In the report, the factory manager revealed that there was a difference between the coffee packets consumed by the victims and the one produced at his factory.

“Yes, there’s a possibility it was an act of sabotage. We are investigating,” Anuar said in a statement yesterday.

Police have received five police reports between Jan 30 and Feb 3 on cases of victims rushed to hospital after drinking the same brand of coffee of two different flavours.

The case is being investigated under Section 272 of the Penal Code for adulteration of food or drink, which is intended for sale.

In Klang, police believe the druglaced durianflavoured 4-in-1 coffee beverage consumed by five people, including two security guards who were rushed to hospital last week, was found only in Penang.

Federal Narcotics Department deputy director Datuk Kang Chez Chiang said some of the victims were believed to have picked up the coffee sachets from rubbish bins. He said drug syndicate members were believed to have thrown the sachets to escape police detection.

There is a possibility the victims saw that the coffee sachets were new and still in good condition. So, they had taken and consumed it without realising its actual content. We also believe the syndicate had purchased the coffee, slit open the sachets to insert drugs before resealing and selling it to entertainment outlets.”

Kang, however, said there were no arrests so far, adding that an investigation was ongoing to identify the culprits.

Last Wednesday, five victims were rushed to Penang Hospital after drinking th ed urian-fl av our ed coffee. They complained of lethargy and nausea.

All victims displayed toxidrome sympathomimetic, experiencing hallucinations, and becoming paranoid, restless and anxious.

There is a possibility the victims saw the coffee sachets were new and still in good condition. So, they had taken and consumed it without realising its actual content

DATUK KANG CHEZ CHIANG Deputy director Federal Narcotics Department