KOH SAMUI, Thailand — Police arrested a 27-year-old Norwegian national after an alleged assault on a Thai driver and the theft of a pickup truck in the Mae Nam area.
The incident occurred outside Krok Yai restaurant, where the victim, Nattapong Phonpho, 31, told authorities that the suspect blocked his vehicle, punched him twice, and then drove off in the pickup.
Koh Samui Police Station coordinated with Bo Phut Police to locate the stolen vehicle. The suspect, Kristoffer Winther, led officers on a high-speed chase around the island, ignoring commands to stop. The pursuit ended at the Bo Phut intersection, where police blocked the road and took him into custody.
Authorities described Winther as aggressive and initially uncooperative, refusing to answer questions. Witnesses said they had seen him walking along the street before the incident, raising concerns about his mental state at the time. Police also noted that Winther had previously visited nearby Koh Pha Ngan before arriving on Koh Samui.
