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Western Australia Police said a 43-year-old woman from the Perth area was arrested in Golden Bay on October 8 following an eight-month investigation into the deliberate contamination of a coworker’s food. The force detailed how the accused, who was in a personal relationship with the victim, allegedly added poisonous granules to a container of curry that had been brought to work for sharing among staff at a business in Oldbury, south of the city. Officers reported that laboratory testing confirmed the presence of metaldehyde, a pesticide commonly used against slugs and snails that can cause serious injury or death if ingested. According to police, the charge of unlawful act with intent to harm specifically relates to endangering the life, health or safety of another person.
Investigators outlined that the incident took place on February 12 when the 58-year-old victim prepared the curry dish for her colleagues. Police said the group consumed portions of the meal without incident during a morning tea break earlier in the day. The 43-year-old woman then accessed a chemical storage shed on the premises before returning to the staff lunchroom where the remaining food had been left, according to the police account. Detectives noted this sequence formed the basis of their case after reviewing the timeline and evidence from the scene.
The victim later returned to the curry during her lunch break and immediately noticed bright green granules mixed throughout the dish, police reported. After tasting only a small amount she experienced numbness on her tongue and retained the container rather than continuing to eat, handing it over to authorities for forensic examination. Armadale detectives took charge of the inquiry, which involved chemical analysis that identified the substance as snail pellets containing the toxic compound. This prompt action by the victim prevented what could have been a more severe outcome, according to officials.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch stated that the poison involved can cause serious injury or death. He added that authorities were thankful the person who tasted the curry was aware something was not quite right and had early adverse effects from it. The commissioner’s comments came as part of a briefing on the case that highlighted the dangers of metaldehyde, a substance readily available in garden products but highly toxic to humans. Police have declined to release further specifics about the workplace or the precise nature of the personal relationship between the two women.
The force confirmed the accused and victim worked together at the Oldbury site where the alleged tampering occurred. Officers described the probe as methodical, involving interviews, site inspections and scientific testing that eventually led to the arrest more than eight months later. Data from similar food contamination incidents in Australia remains limited, though health authorities have long warned about the risks of intentional poisoning in domestic or workplace settings. The case has drawn attention from multiple outlets tracking developments in Western Australian criminal matters.
The 43-year-old is scheduled to appear in Armadale Magistrates Court on November 5 to face the single charge. Police have not named either woman involved in the matter, citing standard procedures for such cases prior to full court proceedings. Authorities indicated that the investigation concluded with sufficient evidence to support the prosecution, which will now proceed through the judicial system. Further details are expected to emerge during the upcoming hearing.
