KUALA LUMPUR: The model who was detained by police for alleged obstruction of civil duties in Jalan Tun Sambanthan on Monday urged netizens and media not to create fake news about the incident.
M. Gayathiri, released on police bail last night, had gone on record in a new TikTok post telling the public not to spread lies about her confrontation with the policemen over a traffic offence.
The model in her 30s said she was unhappy with some inaccurate news reports and nasty comments from netizens, who were not even at the scene when it happened.
"Please stop spreading fake news. Dear media and netizens, please stop. I saw a news report which accused me of using vulgarity towards the police (on duty). This is not true.
"I am being investigated by them, and my case is still under investigation. So they will do their job. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will pay for my summon or penalty, if any," she said after explaining what had transpired.
Her arrest was widely shared, and her actions were harshly criticised by netizens.
One of her posts explaining what had actually happened received more than 12,000 likes.
On Facebook, her video was viewed more than 27,000 times with 122 comments and counting.
One of the comments the video received was from Sakthi Sri, who said:" People have kind of stopped using their brains. They just jump on the bandwagon, judge and degrade everything on social media."
Another Thigarajan Muthu praised her bravery to stand up for her rights.
GS Dhaliwal:"Police have an authoritarian attitude. I can understand your predicament.
"There was no need for such a number of cops. It is sad that cops in Malaysia have no accountability to an independent body.
"However, we must be diplomatic and say as little as possible."
Nishanthini Sugumaran wrote: "Some people can't take it when a woman is bold and strong. Instead, they are mocked with stupid, stupid, stupid matters like what that stupid spoke about your attire."
Some also likened the nasty comments for her video to cyber bullies.
Gayathiri, previously an instant sensation for an attire she wore during a Ponggal celebration shoot, is again under the spotlight after a video clip of her arguing with policemen in Brickfields became viral.
She was picked up for questioning by the Brickfields police and was released almost at midnight.
The news about her arrest had gone viral, with the Brickfields police chief, ACP Amihizam Shukor saying she's being investigated for three charges, including Section 233 of the MCMC Act and obstruction.
It was earlier reported that police had yesterday spotted a 40-second video clip on TikTok featuring the model-cum-social media influencer in the incident on Monday.
In the clip, the woman is seen losing her cool at two policemen who confronted her for not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving.
Police investigated the case under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing civil servants from carrying out their duty; and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for offensive online content intended to threaten or harass another person, among other things.