The adopted daughter of a transsexual being held over the killing of a police

officer said yesterday that she would study hard at school to make "mum" proud.

"I love my mum so much," said Ammy, 13.

The girl said she knew her mum, Seksan Khamwong, was once a man and had served time in prison.

"My grandmother has assured me that my mum will be back soon. I am going to study hard to make my mum proud," said Ammy, who has just begun her Grade 7 classes.

After his arrest, Seksan told police that he had drugged Lt-Colonel Chanin Bunnag in a hotel room because he wanted to steal the officer's valuables in order to help pay for his daughter's school fees.

Seksan's mother, Phet, said Ammy had become depressed and quiet since Seksan's arrest.

Seksan insists he had no intention of killing Chanin and had no idea that the drug, which was just meant to induce sleep, would be fatal.

Chanin was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room on Wednesday morning after he had checked in with Seksan, who had a sex-change operation when he was 22.

Rat Burana police station superintendent Colonel Krailert Bua-kaew said tests were being carried out to determine which drug Seksan had used on Channin and to determine why Chanin's nose appeared to have been pressed in when he was found.

"We should know the results within seven days," Krailert said.

He said the results would determine whether Seksan, 36, who has been charged with theft leading to his victim's death, would face more serious charges.

Police yesterday obtained court permission to detain Seksan for 12 more days.

Meanwhile, Salad Chawichai, the headman of the village where Seksan's mother lives, said people in the village believe that Seksan had not intended to kill the officer.

"If the police allow bail, we are going to pool money to secure his [Seksan's] release," said the headman.

Police, however, have expressed their intention of opposing a bail request, saying that Seksan had been convicted of a similar crime before.