Hong Kong Man Who Put Urine in Supermarket Drinks for a Year Says It Was "Just a Prank to Lift His Mood"

A man in his 60s in Hong Kong has shocked the public after it was belatedly revealed that he had been putting his own urine into soft drinks for about a year.

The Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently reported that former real estate agent Franklin Lo Kim-ngai, 63, who was indicted on charges of administering a noxious substance, has admitted to the crime.

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The defendant is accused of secretly adding his urine to soft drinks such as cola displayed in a large supermarket and then putting them back on the shelves. According to an investigation by the authorities, he repeatedly carried out this act over a period of about one year, from July 2024 to August last year. He told investigators that he did it as a prank to lift his mood after an argument with a supermarket employee.

The Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong, which is handling the case, ruled that the crime could pose a serious threat to public hygiene. However, the defense argued that the defendant had not received emotional support from his family after retiring and had suffered from loneliness and depression following the death of his parents. The defendant is reported to have had no significant prior criminal record before this case.

According to the police and officials from the manufacturer's distributor, consumers who had used the large supermarket in question had repeatedly reported that the drinks had a strange taste and smell. As a result, some products were recalled. In July last year, a 9-year-old child who drank one of the beverages complained of dizziness. However, it was reported that this did not lead to any serious health problems.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the offense of administering a noxious substance is punishable under current law by up to three years in prison. Taking into account the defendant's psychological issues, the court is also considering alternative measures such as community service or probation. The defendant is currently reported to be receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital.

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