- The alleged Hipp blackmailer Pavel S. (39) was arrested in Salzburg after a 38-day manhunt.
- The father of three was employed at Hipp and was laid off at the beginning of the year – shortly afterwards he separated from his wife.
- 15 micrograms of rat poison were found in a baby jar seized.
The suspected poisoner of Hipp baby food kept the public in suspense for 38 days. On Saturday, Austrian investigators were able to track down and arrest the suspect, Pavel S., in Salzburg. What is known about the suspect?
Who is Pavel S.?
39-year-old Pavel S. is a father of three and worked in middle management at the baby food manufacturer Hipp. At the beginning of the year he was fired for economic reasons, as the “Kronen-Zeitung” reports.
Shortly afterwards there was said to be a break in his personal life: his wife separated from him and the divorce was described as full of conflict. When the relationship ended, he apparently also lost regular contact with his three children.
How did the Hipp blackmail come about?
After his dismissal and separation, Pavel S. is said to have sent a blackmail email to Hipp’s German headquarters, which initially went unnoticed. Only after several manipulated baby food jars were discovered did the letter come into the focus of investigators.
In mid-April, Hipp triggered a recall of baby food in Austria. According to Bavarian police, several tampered glasses were seized in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
What allegations are there?
The 39-year-old is accused in Austria of intentionally endangering the community and attempted intentional grievous bodily harm. The public prosecutor’s office in Germany is also investigating the case. The suspect is currently in custody in the state of Salzburg. The presumption of innocence applies.
Did babies consume the poisoned food?
Investigators were able to detect 15 micrograms of rat poison in a jar seized in Eisenstadt (Burgenland). The health consequences of consuming it for a baby are currently still being investigated, as the APA news agency reports. Another allegedly manipulated glass, which is also said to have been sold in Eisenstadt, has not yet been found.
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Karin Leuthold (kle), born in 1968, has been working for 20 Minuten since 2005 and is currently working at the news desk.
