Prosecutors: Woman in Australian strawberry needle plot sought 'revenge'

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- An Australian woman was denied bail after she was charged with placing sewing needles into strawberries -- police say a revenge plot against an associate.

The woman was identified by Queensland Police as My Ut Trinh, 50, after a "complex investigation" into widespread reports of needles being found in the fruit since September. She was arrested Sunday.

Authorities have charged Trinh with seven counts of aggravated contamination of goods.

In court documents, officials say the woman, who worked as a supervisor at the Berrylicious strawberry farm in Caboolture, inserted the needles between Sept. 2-6 with the intent to cause financial loss to the farm's owner.

Prosecutors said Trinh was motivated by "spite or revenge" over a workplace grievance, and that her DNA was found on a needle recovered from a strawberry in Victoria.

In opposing bail, prosecutors said that witnesses would be put at risk if Trinh was freed and the suspect could face retribution. The judge said she would not grant bail unless the motives for the crimes were further explained.

Trinh is scheduled to appear in front of Brisbane Magistrates Court on Nov. 22.

Reports of contaminated strawberries were made in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia, and caused a national panic.

Some 230 reports of strawberry contamination were confirmed, leading to six strawberry brands -- Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious -- pulling their products in recalls. Several supermarket chains stopped selling the fruit in response to the scare.

The incident also encouraged copycat incidents and hoaxes, officials said.