An employee at a government-affiliated company in Beijing, China went to extreme lengths to prevent her colleague from taking maternity leave, resulting in a shocking incident of poisoning.

The disturbing event came to light through a widely circulated video, capturing an employee from central Hubei province attempting to tamper with her coworker's drink, as reported by South China Morning Post.

The perpetrator was associated with the Hydrology and Water Resources Investigation Bureau in the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, a governmental institution known for its stringent recruitment processes, often termed as 'iron rice bowls' due to the job security they provide.

In the video footage, a woman in a black jacket can be observed approaching her colleague's desk, discreetly adding a powdery substance from a small bottle into the drink on the table before hastily walking away from the crime scene.

Screenshots from WeChat conversations revealed that the victim became suspicious upon detecting an unusual taste in her drink. Initially attributing it to the office water supply, she switched to bottled water but continued to experience the strange flavor.

Recalling a banter from a colleague hinting at possible tampering with her drink, she decided to utilize her iPad to discreetly record her workspace, capturing her colleague's nefarious actions.

The motive behind the poisoning, as bizarre as it may seem, was the perpetrator's reluctance to allow her pregnant colleague to take maternity leave, fearing the additional workload that would fall upon her shoulders.

Upon reporting the incident to the authorities, investigations promptly ensued. Employees from the Hydrology and Water Resources Investigation Bureau expressed their grave concern regarding the matter on March 18th, and investigations are thus currently ongoing. 

Would you poison your colleague for a lighter workload? Comment below. 

Source: Harian Metro