POLICE said today (Dec. 5) that the death of renowned TV Channel 8 reporter on Nov. 30 was due to cyanide poisoning after he had returned from work and had drinks with some friends, Amarin TV said.
At 10 a.m. on Nov. 30 Pol. Lt. Angkarn Sriyotha, deputy investigating officer at Bang Kruai police station in Nonthaburi, was alerted of a death at a townhouse in this district and went to investigate together with a doctor from the Institute of Forensic Science and some rescuers.
At the scene they found the body of Mr. Nattawut Ponglangka, 35, who is well-known for his investigative reporting, lying supine on a bedsheet in the ground floor living room. He was wearing a black round-neck T-shirt, jeans, socks, and a wristwatch. There were no signs of a struggle or physical assault.
A friend of the deceased, who was inside the townhouse, testified that after work, the deceased returned home to relax and drink with a group of friends. The deceased then went to rest in the downstairs living room. In the morning, he was found dead on the living room floor, with the cause of death unknown. The deceased had underlying allergies as well as suffered from asthma.
Police sent the body for a detailed autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to determine the exact cause of death.
The institute released the initial result of the autopsy on Nattawu’s body yesterday stating that cyanide was detected in his bloodstream and stomach at levels that could be life-threatening. It has been confirmed that this is the cause of his death with this initial result having been submitted to the investigating officer for further legal proceedings.
It will take approximately a month to complete and submit the official autopsy result.
Pol. Col. Kittisak Pongthanarak, superintendent of Bang Kruai police station, reported the case to Pol. Lt. Gen. Wattana Yijin, commander of Provincial Police Region 1, with provincial and local police investigators having now met and divided up duties to unravel this reporter’s death.
Relatives and friends of the deceased who were present at the townhouse the day he died have been summoned for questioning with police also preparing to reexamine the townhouse.
A funeral was held for Nattawut on Dec. 1-2 in Nonthaburi after which his body was taken to Wat Rim Kok in Mae Yao subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Rai province, for further religious ceremonies, from Dec. 3-5, with the cremation scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6.
However a news anchor, Mr. Phut Apiwan later said in a Facebook post that Nattawut’s family had halted the funeral after receiving the autopsy result. He added, “I would like to express my respect for Mr. Nattawut, my brother, Mr. Thanakrit Jitareerat, along with the doctors – police will uncover the truth,” PPTVHD36 said.
Amarin TV reporters spoke to the undertaker at the Chiang Rai temple who said looking at the deceased it was difficult to tell whether he died from disease or was poisoned because the hospital had dressed the dead body. Furthermore, the death certificate listed cardiac arrhythmia as the cause of death.
CAPTIONS:
Mr. Nattawut Ponglangka who died from cyanide poisoning. Above photo – Amarin TV, Front Page photo – PPTVHD36
Insert – The townhouse where Mr. Nattawut Ponglangka died. Photo – Amarin TV
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