Expert report links poison in baby food to suspect's flat
A new investigation into the poisoned baby food case in Austria shows matches between the poison in the jars and a substance found at a 39-year-old's home.
Expert report links poison in baby food to suspect's flat
The investigation into the alleged extortion case against baby food manufacturer Hipp in Austria has taken an important turn. A comparative analysis has revealed that the composition and concentration of rat poison in the contaminated jars match the substance found by investigators at 39-year-old Pavel S.'s home.
The State Prosecutor's Office in Eisenstadt confirmed the expert report's findings on Thursday. The substance was discovered in the accused's flat in St. Gilgen am Wolfgangsee. Nevertheless, prosecutors have pointed out that the expert report alone does not yet prove that it is exactly the same poison or that the suspect is directly connected to the contamination. According to State Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Petra Bauer, it is an additional line of evidence in the ongoing investigation, reported Kronen Zeitung.
Already in mid-May it was determined that the amount of rat poison in the baby food, whilst not lethal, could have caused health problems, particularly in small children. The case has caused considerable concern in Austria.
Austrian media have revealed details about the suspect's lifestyle, a former Hipp manager. The 39-year-old father of three is said to have lived in a flat in the Salzburg region, which he is reported to have purchased in 2001 for around €402,000. Shortly before his arrest, he is said to have bought a plot of land with a view of the Wolfgangsee for approximately €600,000. Investigators suspect he used forged documents for loans. From actual monthly net income of around €3,500, he is said to have produced documents showing he earned more than €10,000 net per month. With such allegedly forged income statements, he is said to have obtained a further loan of around €900,000 from a Slovak bank.
Source: 24ur