Woman arrested over Australia strawberry needle scare

Police have made their first arrest in the cases of strawberry sabotage in Australia, in which sewing needles were found in fruit sold in six states.

Police in Queensland state say they've arrested 50-year-old My Ut Trinh and charged her with seven counts of goods contamination.

Detective John Walker of the State Crime Command said she worked in the strawberry industry near the town of Caboolture, north of Brisbane.

This picture taken on September 20, 2018 shows Braetop Berries strawberry farmer Aidan Young holding a strawberry as he poses amid strawberries he will destroy following a nationwide needle scare, on his farm in the Glass House Mountains in Queensland. Australia's pins-in-punnets strawberry crisis prompted a spate of social-media driven hoaxes, but sites like Facebook and Twitter are also helping stir a revival in sales that has left some farmers struggling to meet resurgent demand. [Photo: VCG]

She was due to appear in court Monday. Each count against her carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

Australia's strawberry industry was devastated after recalls of the fruit were ordered following the initial needle discovery in September and several others believed to be copycat actions.

No injuries were reported.