CANBERRA (Reuters) – An Australian court on Wednesday ordered the release of a woman accused of sparking a major food scare by contaminating strawberries with sewing needles in 2018 after prosecutors said charges would be dropped.
The strawberry industry, worth A$160 million ($119.4 million), was rocked in September 2018 after nearly 200 complaints of sewing needles found in strawberries and other fruits.
Several major supermarkets withdrew the fruit as shoppers abandoned purchases, forcing some growers to dump fruit amid warnings of widespread bankruptcies.
My Ut Trinh, a former worker at a farm in Queensland, was within weeks charged with seven counts of contamination of goods with intent to cause economic loss.
But after two days of hearings at the start of her trial, prosecutors said they would not proceed with the case against Trinh. They did not give a reason.
“The prosecution have indicated that they will no longer proceed against you with these charges,” said residing Justice Michael Byrne.
“You are now discharged and you can leave the dock.”
Speaking after the charges were dropped, Trinh thanked her supporters.
“Thank you. I don’t know how to talk. I no talk but I work my job nearly 20 years,” she told reporters in Brisbane.
But she added: “I no work for almost three years.”
($1 = 1.3403 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
