PENANG police are hunting a local Chinese woman believed to have distributed tainted instant coffee, which has led to seven people being hospitalised.

Northeast district police chief Anuar Omar said the woman, in her 40s, had given out packets of tainted coffee for free at a food outlet in Jelutong.

“Until we find this woman, we will not be able to find out where the coffee mix came from and the motive (behind the act).

“People who had taken the product all fell ill and had to be warded in hospital. They suffered symptoms like vomiting, nausea and headache. Some even fainted.

“We ask that those with information on the case come forward to police,” he told a press conference at his office in George Town today.

He urged the public to be wary when offered food and drinks for free by unknown individuals.

“Don’t consume the free products if possible. Don’t take them (free products) if you find them, unless they are to be given to police. If you have information, share it with police.”

Police are investigating the tainted coffee mix after the case went viral last month.

So far, seven people have landed in hospital after consuming the tainted coffee, and five police reports have been lodged by some of the victims and Penang Hospital medical officers.

On January 27, two women were warded after drinking tainted durian-flavoured coffee. One of them lodged a report on Saturday.

On the same day, an 18-year-old from Bukit Tengah was sent to hospital after consuming the same beverage, but the teen did not lodge a report and has since disappeared.

On January 31, two Nepali security guards, who received instant coffee for free from a woman living in the Pulau Tikus apartment they work at, had to be warded when they suffered severe fatigue shortly after consuming the drink.

“The woman had consumed the product herself and felt dizzy afterwards. She thought it would be a waste to throw out the rest of the coffee mix, so she gave it to the guards,” said Anuar.

“She is not the distributor. She said she had received the coffee mix from her sister-in-law, who had gotten the product in Jelutong, from the woman we are now looking for.

“We have sent the two guards’ urine samples for testing. I think we will get the test results this afternoon.”

Police, on Saturday, received another report in Sg Nibong on two men being sent to hospital after drinking tainted instant coffee.

“They got the coffee mix from a friend, who came across the coffee packets,” said Anuar, adding that soon after the case went viral, packets of coffee mix were found dumped at the foot of Penang Hill. 

He said the brands involved were Penang White Coffee and Mycafe durian coffee, but the manufacturers had denied any wrongdoing.

On February 1, Mycafe’s manufacturer lodged a report related to the Bukit Tengah case, claiming that the company was being sabotaged.

“The manager of the company said there were differences in the coffee sachets given to the victims,” said Anuar.

“It is true that the sachets had been cut and tampered with. The weight of each sachet was supposed to be only 14g, but those taken by the victims were heavier.

“And, the contents of the sachets had hardened like biscuits because air had gotten inside.”

Police have seized the coffee mix of both brands as part of investigations under Section 272 of the Penal Code, for the adulteration of food and drinks intended for sale.

The offence is punishable with six months’ jail, a RM2,000 fine, or both.

Anuar said it was suspected that methamphetamine had been put into the coffee mix.

“The two brands of coffee mix are not expensive. If some people had put drugs into them, they should cost more.

“But, the mix was given to people for free. It is like how companies sometimes give free products for promotional purposes, or to test the market.

“We are still investigating. We believe that there is an element of sabotage targeting the manufacturers.

“Or maybe, there is a syndicate involved, with the intention to distribute drugs at places like entertainment outlets.”

The Health Ministry has advised consumers to avoid durian-flavoured coffee for the time being, and said it was conducting a random sampling of pre-mixed coffee.

In Singapore, authorities have ordered a recall of the Mycafe durian coffee, following reports of the tainted coffee mix. – February 6, 2018.