4 Nov 2015

Blackmail-accused keeps name secret - for now

10:24 am on 4 November 2015

A 60 year-old businessman accused of attempted blackmail and threatening to contaminate infant milk formula with the poison 1080 has succeeded in keeping his name secret - for now.

The man, whose name and companies are suppressed, appeared in the High Court in Auckland today and is yet to enter pleas on two blackmail charges.

Justice Lang said the name suppression orders would be reviewed at the man's next appearance in December.

The man was arrested last month following a lengthy police investigation, codenamed operation Concord.

The Dairy Companies Association estimated the threat cost New Zealand's dairy sector millions of dollars.

More than 150,000 tests across a range of products have been carried out since the threats were made last November.

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