Hong Kong retiree spiked soft drinks with urine in year-long ‘prank’

A former property agent has admitted planting urine-spiked soft drinks among other goods in supermarkets repeatedly for more than a year, telling a Hong Kong court he had developed depression since his divorce and retirement.

Kowloon City Court heard that Franklin Lo Kim-ngai, 63, marked his discontent with supermarket staff by doctoring Coca-Cola Plus and 7-Up drinks with his urine and placing them in Wellcome and ParknShop outlets across the city between July 21, 2024, and August 6, last year.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to administering a noxious substance with intent to injure and a second count of attempting to commit the offence. The crime is punishable by up to three years in jail under the Offences Against the Person Ordinance.

Lo lost emotional support from his family following his parents’ death and separation from his ex-wife and son, who stopped contacting him after emigrating overseas, his lawyer told the court.

The court heard the defendant, who previously had a clear record, had hoped to play a “prank” and cause trouble for Wellcome employees after having a quarrel with them.

Before Lo’s arrest, Swire Coca-Cola had received reports about the discovery of urine-spiked soft drinks at multiple Wellcome and ParknShop outlets.

A nine-year-old boy felt unwell after consuming a bottle of Coca-Cola Plus from the Wellcome branch at Mong Kok’s Union Park Centre on July 18, 2025.