Ex-Agent Admits to Urine-Contaminated Soft Drinks in Hong Kong
A 63-year-old former property agent has pleaded guilty in a Hong Kong court to contaminating soft drinks with urine and placing them in supermarkets across the city over an extended period. The accused, Franklin Lo Kim-ngai, admitted to tampering with bottles of Coca-Cola Plus and 7-Up and leaving them on store shelves at Wellcome and ParknShop outlets, authorities said.
According to the South China Morning Post, Lo told the court that he committed the acts due to dissatisfaction with supermarket staff and emotional distress following his retirement and divorce.
Lo appeared at Kowloon City Court wearing a grey T-shirt bearing the words “Enjoy Coca-Cola” as he faced charges of administering a noxious substance with intent to injure. The offences are alleged to have occurred between July 21, 2024, and August 6, 2025, including at a Wellcome supermarket in the Nam Cheong Place shopping centre in Sham Shui Po.
Court documents said Lo tampered with an unspecified number of soft drink bottles “with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy” members of the public. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to charges of administering a noxious substance and attempting to commit the offence. Under Hong Kong’s Offences Against the Person Ordinance, the offences carry a maximum sentence of up to three years’ imprisonment.
Lawyer Cites Divorce, Retirement in Defence
Lo’s lawyer told the court that the defendant had been suffering from depression following his divorce, which resulted in the loss of emotional support. The court heard that Lo’s former wife and son had moved overseas and cut off contact, and that he had also experienced the deaths of both parents.
The lawyer said Lo characterised his actions as a “prank” intended to cause inconvenience to supermarket staff rather than harm the public.
Magistrate Patrick Tsang Hing-tung adjourned the case until October 21 for further police investigation and denied Lo’s bail application. Police told reporters that the suspect may have targeted supermarkets in Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, and Wan Chai over the past year.
How the Case Was Discovered
The case came to light following multiple reports of contaminated soft drinks at Wellcome and ParknShop outlets. In one incident in July 2025, a nine-year-old boy fell ill after drinking a urine-tainted beverage purchased from a Wellcome store at Union Park Centre in Mong Kok. He was hospitalised but discharged the same day with no lasting effects.
Dr Fong Lai-ying, director of the Hong Kong Food Innovation and Technology Centre, warned that urine may contain viruses, drug residues, and other harmful substances.
She said, “If the person is unhealthy or has taken medication, there could be drug residues. Conditions such as proteinuria and glycosuria can also be present in urine.” Dr Fong advised that anyone who accidentally consumes a contaminated drink should flush it out by drinking plenty of water.
