Qld: Three held over headache tablet poisoning

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2000
Qld: Three held over headache tablet poisoning

BRISBANE, Dec 6 AAP - Police were believed to be questioning two of the victims poisoned
with strychnine during this year's Panadol and Herron extortions.

Brisbane couple Dennis Fountain, 62, his wife Jane, 55, were admitted to hospital in
June after taking Panadol tablets apparently laced with strychnine.

However, a Queensland police spokesman this morning said he would not confirm reports
the couple had been questioned overnight or were being treated as suspects.

The Australian newspaper today reported that the couple were being treated as suspects
after police raided their western Brisbane home yesterday.

It said that the couple and the woman's son Murray Don Wayper were taken in for questioning
only hours before police in New South Wales and Queensland lifted a media blackout on
reporting fresh extortion demands made in November.

Late yesterday, police said it was unlikely any charges would be laid overnight, in
which case the three people they were questioning would be allowed to go home.

However, police were continuing to search a house in the Brisbane suburb of Chapel
Hill and charges could still be laid later, the spokesman said.

Police yesterday revealed they believed the same person was responsible for the extortion
attempts against both pharmaceutical companies which led to the companies removing stock
from stores and introducing new tamper-evident packaging.

"We believe that the extortionist responsible for the offences against Panadol (owned
by SmithKline Beecham) and indeed the Queensland pharmaceutical company, Herron, is the
same person," New South Wales Crime Agencies Chief Superintendent Rod Harvey said.

They also revealed that the recent move to take Panadol off open shelves and place
the product behind shop counters was sparked by a new extortion threat.

Police said the manufacturer of Panadol, SmithKline Beecham, had received three letters
since late October, the first in an empty Panadol packet which demanded a large sum of
money.

They said the public was not told of the new extortion attempt because there was no
evidence of an immediate risk.

Supt Harvey said there were indications a fourth letter containing ransom instructions
would arrive, but no letter was received.

"It is now apparent that the extortionist has broken off contact with SmithKline Beecham,"

Supt Harvey said in Sydney.

Queensland police searched houses across Brisbane yesterday before taking the three
people away for questioning.

Thirty-three other potential witnesses from in and around Brisbane were also interviewed.

AAP jfs/jo/apm

KEYWORD: PANADOL SECOND DAYLEAD

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