Police deny hurting 'net idol' caught with e-cigarette

Police drag net idol Manussaya Yaowarat, aka Flukesri Maneedeng, up the stairs to a detention cell at Pattaya police station on Sunday. (Photo from the page of Facebook user Manussaya Yaowarat)

PATTAYA: Police have denied an allegation they physically assaulted net idol Flukesri Maneedeng after arresting her for possession of an e-cigarette and vaping liquid.

Manussaya Yaowarat, 29, her real name, an online presenter of products, has complained that Pattaya police used unnecessary force while taking her into detention at the station.

She earlier said that police arrested her after finding the e-cigarette and liquid on the console of her friend's car after stopping it in Pattaya about 5am on Sunday. She alleged that police assaulted her, held her in a neck lock and grabbed her hair, and that she also lost her bracelet at that time.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Jirawat Suwannapim of the Pattaya police station on Monday denied she was physically abused. He said she was arguing loudly with police and they were taking her to a cell so that she could calm down. But she resisted and continued to struggle and shout.

More police then moved in to help overpower her.

Police held her by the body and pushed and pulled her along, but did not grab her hair, put her in a neck lock or hit her as claimed, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Jirawat said.

He also said that during her detention Ms Manussaya kept shouting and hitting the cell bars with her head and hands so loudly that other detainees could not sleep. Police warned her a few times to desist, and then later took her to a local court where she was released on bail.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Jirawat also said that other detainees could be witnesses for the police.

Pol Lt Col Omsin Sukkankha, deputy chief of Pattaya station, said a fact-finding inquiry was ordered into the incident. Police would also look into whether she should be charged with insulting officials performing their duty.