BANGKOK, THAILAND – The sudden death of an award‑winning Thai television reporter has raised questions from his family and a senior official, forcing authorities to halt his cremation.
Prize-winning reporter found dead at home
Nattawut Ponglangka, 35, a decorated investigative reporter for Channel 8, was found dead in his apartment on 30 November. Colleagues said he had “fallen asleep and not woken up,” and news of his death spread rapidly through Thai media. Born in Chiang Rai, he had recently received the Thep Narai Nakarat Award 2025 for outstanding field reporting.
Health ministry aide questions cause of death
On 5 December, the case intensified when Thanakrit Chitareerat, assistant to the health minister, publicly intervened via social media. He urged authorities to stop the cremation and posed three questions: whether Nattawut died from cardiac arrhythmia, whether it was suicide, or whether poisoning was involved. He also posted a photo of a bag containing white powder and asked why it had not been tested, accusing investigators of having conducted only a superficial inquiry.
Family orders body secured after autopsy
In response to these public doubts, the family immediately moved to have the body secured after receiving the autopsy results. Veteran journalist Phut Apiwan confirmed the decision, saying the family had
“unresolved doubts”
said Phut Apiwan, journalist.
and wanted a detailed follow-up examination. No authority had confirmed a cause of death or released the autopsy findings, and official silence continued to fuel speculation.
Unanswered questions over reporter’s work
Nattawut was known for his persistent investigative reporting and worked on key news programmes such as “Thub Took Khao”. Colleagues and observers now wondered whether he had been preparing a sensitive exposé and whether he might have become a target. The circumstances of a death described simply as occurring “in his sleep” appeared too convenient to many in the media industry, which remained on high alert.
Police under political and public pressure
The case had drawn high-level political attention, and the intervention of a ministry aide placed police investigators under heavy pressure. They now had to establish not only a cause of death but also defend the credibility of their own work, with any misstep carrying the potential for scandal. Securing the body offered a second chance for a comprehensive forensic analysis that, according to critics, would have to be absolutely watertight.
Grief, mistrust and a fight for answers
As colleagues and fans mourned the reporter, public mistrust continued to grow, highlighting how fragile confidence in official investigations could be. For Nattawut’s family, the painful grieving process had become entwined with an exhausting struggle for the truth. Until doubts were dispelled, the death of the young reporter was likely to remain a dark stain on Thailand’s media landscape.