Nattapong Westwood

Nattapong Westwood is a Bangkok-born writer who is half Thai and half Aussie. He studied in an international school in Bangkok and then pursued journalism studies in Melbourne. Nattapong began his career as a freelance writer before joining Thaiger. His passion for news writing fuels his dedication to the craft, as he consistently strives to deliver engaging content to his audience.
  • Thailand NewsRoyal Forest Department investigates land appropriation

    Royal Forest Department investigates land appropriation

    The Royal Forest Department launched a probe into allegations of land encroachment within the Pang Asok woodlot. The claim comes from Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, head of the Office of National Parks, who stumbled upon a disturbing sight: a backhoe and tractor clearing swathes of land purportedly for personal gain. Chaiwat asserts that approximately 64 hectares stand despoiled, with a suspicious Sor Por…

  • Thailand NewsLast member of Bangkok motorcycle theft gang nabbed by police

    Last member of Bangkok motorcycle theft gang nabbed by police

    The arrest of a 21 year old woman, identified only by her nickname Khem, has made headlines as she was apprehended for her involvement in a motorcycle theft gang. The capture took place at a residence in the district of Krathum Baen, Samut Sakhon province, after an extensive investigation led by the authorities. The operation was initiated under the direction…

  • Thailand NewsThai wildfires rage across 10 provinces in northern Thailand

    Thai wildfires rage across 10 provinces in northern Thailand

    An apocalyptic blaze threatens to engulf vast swathes of the northern Thai landscape, with an estimated 1 million rai (equivalent to 160,000 hectares) poised to succumb to wildfires between February 19 and 25, as revealed by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The inferno’s ominous reach spans 10 provinces including Tak, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Mae…

  • Thailand NewsDelivery rider helps himself to water dispenser in Thai restaurant

    Delivery rider helps himself to water dispenser in Thai restaurant

    A delivery rider sparked an outcry on social media after being captured filling his cup with water from a restaurant’s dispenser without permission. The incident, which quickly became a hot topic online, began when an individual posted an image and message on the LINE Man Rider Thailand Facebook group. The post highlighted a delivery rider who was seen filling up…

  • Thailand NewsEx-MP’s nephew dies in Nakhon Phanom motorcycle crash

    Ex-MP’s nephew dies in Nakhon Phanom motorcycle crash

    A tragic motorcycle crash claimed the life of a former six-term MP’s nephew in Nakhon Phanom Province, as he collided with a pickup truck on his motorcycle. The accident occurred yesterday (February 22), when the man was on his way to pick up his wife. Despite prompt medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The accident took…

  • Thailand NewsLandmark verdict in Kanchanaburi: 18 sentenced to death, 1 gets life in prison brawl case

    Landmark verdict in Kanchanaburi: 18 sentenced to death, 1 gets life in prison brawl case

    Eighteen individuals today received the death penalty with one sentenced to life imprisonment in a landmark ruling at the Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court in Kanchanaburi province. The court acquitted four others in a case stemming from a deadly brawl between inmate groups from Ban Mueang Kan and Ban Bo Phloi against those from Ban Tha Maka. The incident, which…

  • Thailand NewsThailand police fine parents in illegal racing crackdown

    Thailand police fine parents in illegal racing crackdown

    Police officials launched a strict crackdown on illegal street racing, specifically targeting the parents of minors involved in such activities. Following a recent incident in the Prasamutchedi district of Samut Prakan Province, police investigations led to legal actions against numerous individuals. The National Police Office’s Assistant Commissioner-General, Saram Nualma, announced that 22 people had been prosecuted following illegal road racing…

  • Thailand NewsAir Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights, stranding passengers

    Air Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights, stranding passengers

    Passengers were left disappointed and frustrated when their Air Japan flight to Tokyo was abruptly cancelled due to technical issues. The fledgling airline, a low-cost carrier within the ANA group, found itself at the centre of controversy after it revealed that it operates with a single aircraft, which brought about a series of cancellations affecting travellers from both Thailand and…

  • Thailand NewsMother awaits DNA confirmation to lay daughter to rest in Ubon Ratchathani

    Mother awaits DNA confirmation to lay daughter to rest in Ubon Ratchathani

    The grieving mother of a young woman known affectionately as Nunn faces a distressing wait to perform the last rites for her daughter. It is anticipated that the process to release the body will take approximately one week. The forensic department at the Police Hospital began DNA collection procedures at 10am, today, February 22, to confirm the identity of the…

  • Road deathsTeen motorcyclist dies in Nonthaburi accident en route to school

    Teen motorcyclist dies in Nonthaburi accident en route to school

    Tragedy struck early this morning when a high school student was killed in a road accident on his way to school. The 18 year old boy lost control of his motorcycle and was subsequently run over by a passing van, leading to his immediate death. The incident occurred on the busy four-lane Ban Kluai-Sai Noi Road in the Bang Bua…

  • Road deathsElderly driver’s lane switch on Bangna-Trad Road triggers multi-car crash

    Elderly driver’s lane switch on Bangna-Trad Road triggers multi-car crash

    A three-vehicle collision on Bangna-Trad Road in Samut Prakan province injured three people, including two students, when a car driven by a 73 year old woman veered across lanes, causing a chain reaction crash. The serious traffic incident occurred today, February 22, on Bangna-Trad Road, Samut Prakan province, when a sedan driven by a 73 year old woman cut in…

  • Thailand NewsKhon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring

    Khon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring

    Law enforcement in Khon Kaen province, Thailand, successfully dismantled a motorcycle theft ring operated by a husband and wife team. The pair, along with their accomplices, have been stealing motorcycles and smuggling them across the Mekong River for sale in neighbouring countries, causing severe distress to locals who have lost more than 30 vehicles. Police Major General Montree Teskan, the…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket Tourist Police arrest illegal foreign tour guides

    Phuket Tourist Police arrest illegal foreign tour guides

    A crackdown on illegal tour guides in Phuket led to the arrest of two foreign nationals. Police charged a 35 year old Ukrainian and a 31 year old stateless individual of highland origin, both accused of operating without proper permits. Phuket Tourist Police, under directives from the National Police Office, has intensified efforts to purge the province of unauthorised tour…

  • Thailand NewsChiang Mai songthaew goes cool with air-con and PM2.5 filters

    Chiang Mai songthaew goes cool with air-con and PM2.5 filters

    In a novel move to revolutionise local transport, a Chiang Mai songthaew driver has transformed the iconic red car into an air-conditioned oasis complete with a PM2.5 filter system. This innovative service has become a hit among both Thai and international tourists, leading to a significant booking queue. The traditional songthaew, a ubiquitous sight in Chiang Mai, has long been…

  • Thailand NewsNorthern Thailand battles severe air pollution as Bangkok breathes clear

    Northern Thailand battles severe air pollution as Bangkok breathes clear

    Seventeen provinces in Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions are grappling with hazardous levels of air pollution, as reported by the country’s Air Pollution Crisis Management Centre (ACMC). In stark contrast, Bangkok enjoys clear skies, free from the dangerous PM2.5 particles, offering residents the chance to breathe easily. Over the next seven days, from February 23 to February 29, the situation…

  • Thailand NewsFatal argument at Nakhon Ratchasima shop ends with gunshot

    Fatal argument at Nakhon Ratchasima shop ends with gunshot

    A 23 year old man’s visit to a motorcycle repair shop in Nakhon Ratchasima turned deadly when an argument over motorcycle noise escalated into a fatal shooting. The confrontation began with a slap and ended with the young man returning with three friends and firearms, resulting in the death of a 27 years old man at the scene. At the…

  • Thailand NewsChon Buri couple offers 100,000 baht for their missing cat

    Chon Buri couple offers 100,000 baht for their missing cat

    An elderly couple from Chon Buri province is offering a substantial reward of 100,000 baht (US$2,787) for the return of their beloved missing cat, Miaow Miaow. The feline, a unique 12 year old neutered male weighing approximately 5 kilogrammes, has been part of their family since 2011 when he wandered into their home and became a cherished pet. The owners,…

  • Road deathsHigh-speed car chase in Ayutthaya ends with crash and drug arrest

    High-speed car chase in Ayutthaya ends with crash and drug arrest

    A high-speed car chase on Asia Road in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province ended in a dramatic crash and arrest yesterday at 6.30pm. Police apprehended a 34 year old factory worker after his blue Mitsubishi Mirage, with the license plate กน 5928, flipped several times and came to a wrecked halt at kilometre 10 in Bang Pa-in district. The incident…

  • Road deathsRoadside tragedy in Songkhla: Pickup truck kills two students

    Roadside tragedy in Songkhla: Pickup truck kills two students

    A tragic road accident occurred today at a scout activity in the district of Sadao, Songkhla province, claiming the lives of two individuals and injuring 15 others. A pickup truck, driven at high speed, veered off course and crashed into a group of primary school students and their teacher, who were assembled at a roadside pavilion. The driver fled the…

  • Crime NewsKhon Kaen police intensify hunt for murder suspect

    Khon Kaen police intensify hunt for murder suspect

    Police are accelerating their search for a suspect vehicle in connection with the brutal murder of a woman, whose charred remains were discovered in a tyre at a dumpsite in Khon Kaen’s Waeng Noi district. The forensic examination confirmed the victim was a 35 year old woman, approximately 160 centimetres tall. The case has spanned three provinces, and investigators are…

  • Thailand NewsThai student arrested for online gun trade, police seize firearms

    Thai student arrested for online gun trade, police seize firearms

    In a significant crackdown on the illegal arms trade, Thai police arrested a 28 year old law student for selling firearms online. The operation led to the seizure of several homemade shotguns and pistols, ready to be dispatched to customers. Today, February 21, under the directive of Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, Chief of the National Police, a coordinated effort…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok police block Thaksin’s house amid tension with activist’s sister

    Bangkok police block Thaksin’s house amid tension with activist’s sister

    Bangkok witnessed a tense standoff yesterday as police cordoned off the area around the residence of Thaksin Shinawatra, preventing Sitanan Satsaksit from approaching the house. Sitanan, the sister of missing democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, sought to question Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen over her brother’s alleged abduction in Cambodia in 2020. Sitanan was barred from reaching Soi Charan Sanitwong 69,…

  • Thailand NewsThai widow swindled in romance scam by fake college director

    Thai widow swindled in romance scam by fake college director

    A 52 year old woman from Udon Thani has been swindled out of nearly 50,000 baht (US$1,386) in a romance scam by a man who claimed to be the director of a well-known vocational college. The man, who made first contact over Facebook, charmed and deceived her into a romantic entanglement before borrowing money and vanishing without a trace. The…

  • Thailand NewsThai man murders wife, hides her body in rubber plantation

    Thai man murders wife, hides her body in rubber plantation

    A Thai man in Chachoengsao admitted to the brutal murder of his wife after her remains were found in a rubber plantation. Initially reporting her missing, the 33 year old man named Sirichai later disclosed the violent altercation that led to him taking 27 year old Chollada’s life yesterday, February 20, and attempting to conceal the crime by burning her…

  • Thailand NewsTranswoman injures two women in Pattaya Beach attack

    Transwoman injures two women in Pattaya Beach attack

    A transwoman reportedly attacked two women on Pattaya Beach at 4.36am on Saturday, February 17. The Sawang Boriboon Dhamma Sathan Rescue Foundation Radio Centre in Pattaya received distress calls on February 17, alerting authorities to a harrowing physical assault. Rushing to Soi 13, Pattaya Beach, Bang Lamuand ng, Chon Buri, rescue teams and local police uncovered a scene of horror. Two…

  • Thailand NewsHua Hin: Elephant found dead in stream, intense conflict suspected

    Hua Hin: Elephant found dead in stream, intense conflict suspected

    The lifeless body of an elephant was discovered in the waters in Huai Sat Yai, Hua Hin. The dead elephant is believed to have succumbed to brutal injuries inflicted during a fierce clash. Deputy Inspector Police Lieutenant Colonel Somphot Prayangam, stationed at Nong Plub Police Station in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, received a distress call from 51 year old…

  • Thailand NewsMinister orders CAAT to cut Bangkok-Phuket flight prices for Songkran

    Minister orders CAAT to cut Bangkok-Phuket flight prices for Songkran

    Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to negotiate with airlines to explore ways to lower airfares following complaints from passengers about the high cost of flights from Bangkok to Phuket. He expressed confidence that reduced prices could be in effect in time for the Songkran travel period. Today, at 9.30am, Suriya Juangroongruangkit addressed the…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s thriving Muslim tourism boom with mosque tour

    Thailand’s thriving Muslim tourism boom with mosque tour

    In a bid to elevate Thailand to the zenith of the Global Muslim Tourism Index (GMTI), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teamed up with key figures like Imam Mathanarat Vacharapisut from the Haroon Mosque and the Islamic Committee of Bangkok to revolutionise cultural tourism for Muslim travellers. Imam Mathanarat Vacharapisut recently joined forces with Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of TAT, in…

  • Thailand NewsRTN officer critically injured in Chon Buri road accident

    RTN officer critically injured in Chon Buri road accident

    A Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officer was severely injured after his pickup truck crashed into a utility pole and flipped onto its roof on a road in Chon Buri province, trapping him inside the vehicle. The incident occurred at around 9.20pm yesterday on Highway 3126 in the Sattahip district, near the RTN’s fuel depot. Emergency services had to use hydraulic…

  • Thailand NewsSudden Udon Thani storm wreaks havoc, children injured

    Sudden Udon Thani storm wreaks havoc, children injured

    A sudden storm ravaged the Udon Thani region, inflicting damage on nearly 20 homes within less than 15 minutes. The calamity left two children injured after tiles from a collapsing roof struck them as they played inside a house. Village leaders are scrambling to assess the damage and facilitate aid. Yesterday, February 18, as evening approached, a fierce storm swept…