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A former employee of a Queensland strawberry farm, accused of having planted needles in the fruit, causing a national crisis for the area, was told that it was too early to apply for bail.
My Ut Trinh, a 50-year-old man, appeared in Brisbane court on Monday after being charged with seven counts of mercury contamination between September 2 and 5 on Sunday with the intent of causing economic loss.
The first needle discovery in strawberries took place on Sept. 9, and Trinh knows she's been a person of interest since Sept. 12, the court said.
Trinh's lawyer, Michael Cridland, made a request for bail but withdrew it after Judge Christine Roney said it was "premature" because the motivation for the alleged contamination was still unclear.
"The case that was presented was that she was motivated by a fight or revenge," Roney said.
Trinh will remain in detention until his next hearing later in November.
Earlier on Monday, Detective John Walker told reporters in Brisbane that Trinh was an employee of the strawberry industry in the Caboolture area.
Police opened an investigation in September when sewing needles were found in fruits. An additional 230 incidents were reported nationwide, affecting 68 brands of strawberries.
The police were still investigating, Walker said.
