Chinese woman tries to poison pregnant colleague to prevent her from taking maternity leave

The victim caught the accused in the act using her iPad to film her. (Representational)

An employee at a government-affiliated institution in China has been accused of poisoning her pregnant colleague in a bid to prevent her from taking maternity leave. The disturbing episode came to light through a viral video circulating online, capturing the employee, from central Hubei province, allegedly attempting to adulterate her co-worker's drink.

The gravity of the situation escalated as the victim, suspecting foul play, resorted to using her iPad to film her desk, eventually capturing the perpetrator in the act.

The video footage reveals a Chinese woman, clad in a black vest, surreptitiously adding a powdery substance to the drink on her colleague's desk before swiftly departing the scene.

Screenshots from WeChat conversations further unveil the victim's discovery of an odd taste in her water, prompting her to switch to boiled bottled water, albeit to no avail.

It was only after recalling a friend's jest about potential tampering that she resorted to capturing video evidence, exposing the sinister plot.

The motive behind this act appears to be the perpetrator's apprehension regarding the workload implications of her colleague's impending maternity leave.

In a bizarre twist, the accused allegedly confessed to her crime, citing her inability to manage the increased workload alone. The victim reported the incident to the authorities.

Authorities from the Hydrology and Water Resources Investigation Bureau, where the incident transpired, have vowed to pursue the matter rigorously, awaiting the results of the ongoing police investigation.

Legal experts have weighed in, highlighting the potential criminal implications of the perpetrator's actions, irrespective of the toxic nature or physical harm caused by the substance. The intent to harm alone could constitute a criminal offense, lawyers said.