‘Rob Chinese’ author held

A woman who wrote a book titled Plon Khon Chine (Rob the Chinese) has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding people who paid her 2.6 million baht for product promotions by Chinese net idols and on the Chinese online shopping website Taobao.

On-uma Kulnak, 31, was detained at her home on Soi Chokchai 4 Road in Lat Phrao district on Thursday, Pol Col Jiraphop Phuridej, a superintendent at the Crime Suppression Division, said yesterday.

Police executed an arrest warrant issued on May 3 by the Criminal Court on a charge of public fraud, he said.

The action followed a complaint from 19 product manufacturers and dealers late last month. They accused Ms On-uma of inviting them to pay for her services to have their products promoted on Taobao and by Chinese net idols.

The plaintiffs said they paid her a total of 2.6 million baht for her services, but Ms On-uma did not keep her promise.

Ms On-uma denied having defrauded anyone. She said that she provided an advertising service but did not guarantee sales for clients. The book gives tips on exporting Thai products to cash in on the Chinese market.