Police have arrested a factory worker in connection to the Japanese tainted food scandal, which led to massive food poisoning.
According to the Associated Press, Toshiki Abe, a 49-year-old factory worker, was arrested Saturday for his alleged involvement in the food poisoning scandal that caused Maruha Nichiro Holdings Inc. to recall 6.4 million packages of food.
The arrest comes after Abe and other workers employed at the factory were questioned. AP reported that Abe denied the charges, stating to police that he did not recall committing the act he described.
The Japan Times reported that before Abe's arrest, he explained to law officials how someone could poison food at the plant and get away with it. Co-workers also told police that Abe frequently checked his phone for news about the food poisoning cases.
Several workers told police they overheard Abe complaining about the way he was being treated at the plant and stating that his work was not being properly evaluated. Abe also reportedly became frustrated when his bonus was cut last year.
More than 2,800 customers complained of symptoms ranging from stomach pain to vomiting and diarrhea after consuming tainted products that included pizza, croquettes and pancakes, the Associated Press reported. No life-threatening illnesses have been reported.
The food company bought full-page advertisements in major newspapers in Japan on Jan. 13, apologizing and warning customers to avoid eating any of the tainted items.
"The products will have a strong smell and eating them may cause vomiting and stomach pain," Maruha said in a statement after news broke of the outbreak. Fifty-one color photos of the questionable products were also released.
Abe reportedly poisoned food products four times between last Oct. 3 and Oct. 7. After the recall, the company's own investigation found traces of malathion, a flea-killing chemical normally used in farms and gardens.
The Japan Times reported that Abe disappeared following his shift on Jan. 14. Police found him at a parking lot in Satte, near Saitama Prefecture.
Maruha Nichiro Holdings Inc. recently announced executive pay cuts and that the company's president, Toshio Kushiro, was resigning in March.
