Petch Petpailin

Petpailin, or Petch, is a Thai translator and writer for The Thaiger who focuses on translating breakingThai news stories into English. With a background in field journalism, Petch brings several years of experience to the English News desk at The Thaiger. Before joining The Thaiger, Petch worked as a content writer for several known blogging sites in Bangkok, including Happio and The Smart Local. Her articles have been syndicated by many big publishers in Thailand and internationally, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Bangkok Post. She is a news writer who stops reading news on the weekends to spend more time cafe hopping and petting dwarf shrimp! But during office hours, you can find Petch on LinkedIn and you can reach her by email at petch@thethaiger.com.
  • Phuket NewsKuwaiti tourists pay 200,000 baht after attacking Phuket lifeguards | Thaiger

    Kuwaiti tourists pay 200,000 baht after attacking Phuket lifeguards

    Kuwaiti tourists apologised and paid 200,000 baht in compensation to Thai lifeguards after a physical assault over a safety warning at Nai Han Beach on Monday, August 25. A group of foreigners was caught on video attacking two Thai lifeguards at Nai Han Beach in the Rawai sub-district. The confrontation began after one of the lifeguards warned a tourist not…

  • Phuket NewsForeign man caught using app to attempt car theft in Phuket | Thaiger

    Foreign man caught using app to attempt car theft in Phuket

    A foreign man attempted to steal a Thai woman’s car in Phuket on August 24. He appeared to have unlocked the vehicle via his mobile phone, as captured by CCTV. The car owner shared details of the attempted theft with the Phuket Times Facebook page to warn other motorists. She explained that she parked her vehicle on the roadside near…

  • Thailand NewsPhra Bat Nampu ex-abbot claims designing Petronas Towers under stolen identity | Thaiger

    Phra Bat Nampu ex-abbot claims designing Petronas Towers under stolen identity

    An ex-abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple admitted to stealing the identity of a friend in order to avoid military conscription and work illegally in Malaysia, falsely claiming to be a designer of the Petronas Twin Towers. Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested the former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu, Kriangkrai “George”…

  • Thailand NewsCourt rejects plea to block bail for woman who fatally stabs restaurant owner | Thaiger

    Court rejects plea to block bail for woman who fatally stabs restaurant owner

    A woman accused of fatally stabbing a Kamphaeng Phet restaurant owner was released on bail after the victim’s family failed to object. The attack reportedly stemmed from an incident in which the deceased was blamed for not protecting the suspect from a sexual assault. Officers from Khlong Khlung Police Station arrested 32 year old Jaruwan Jaifai for stabbing to death…

  • Phuket NewsZimbabwean romance scammer escapes arrest from Phuket to Bangkok | Thaiger

    Zimbabwean romance scammer escapes arrest from Phuket to Bangkok

    Police arrested a Zimbabwean man at an apartment in Bangkok on Thursday, August 21, for operating a romance scam in Phuket and overstaying his visa. Multiple Thai women filed complaints against a Zimbabwean teacher, later identified as 37 year old Valentive Tandier, at Katu Police Station, saying they had been scammed out of valuables while in a relationship with the…

  • Thailand NewsThai man claims no intent after his dog dies hanging from truck | Thaiger

    Thai man claims no intent after his dog dies hanging from truck

    A Thai man claimed he did not intend to abuse his pet dog after a viral video showed the animal hanging from his pickup truck while travelling on a road in Udon Thani province. A motorist told the Hone Krasae news programme that he spotted a brown dog hanging from the right side of a pickup truck at around 7pm…

  • Thailand NewsEx-abbot and spiritual medium arrested in AIDS donation embezzlement scandal | Thaiger

    Ex-abbot and spiritual medium arrested in AIDS donation embezzlement scandal

    Police arrested a former abbot of Phra Bat Nampu Temple and a spiritual medium close to him earlier today, August 26, following the donation embezzlement. The ex-abbot, identified as Alongkot, and the spiritual medium, Sakesan “Bee” Subsuebsakun, had been under investigation over allegations of embezzling donations intended for AIDS patients. Both were suspected of misappropriating funds for personal gain. Alongkot…

  • Bangkok News20-baht flat fare on Bangkok trains postponed to November | Thaiger

    20-baht flat fare on Bangkok trains postponed to November

    The Transport Minister postponed the launch of Bangkok’s 20-baht flat train fare scheme from October to November, admitting that two relevant bills cannot be approved in time. The registration for the 20-baht train fare policy was announced yesterday, August 25, allowing Thai citizens to travel on the BTS and MRT networks for a flat fee. The initiative is aimed at…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket tourists ignore beach red flags, attacks lifeguards | Thaiger

    Phuket tourists ignore beach red flags, attacks lifeguards

    Foreign tourists spat on and assaulted Thai lifeguards on Nai Han Beach in Phuket yesterday, August 25, after the guards warned them not to swim in the sea for their own safety. Witnesses filmed the attack and shared the video with the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page to expose the tourists’ violent behaviour and demand action from local police and relevant…

  • Bangkok NewsPassenger plunges from bridge after Bangkok taxi driver falls asleep | Thaiger

    Passenger plunges from bridge after Bangkok taxi driver falls asleep

    An app-based motorcycle taxi rider fell asleep and crashed into a bridge railing in Bangkok, causing his female passenger to plunge onto the road below. The moment was captured on video and shared on TikTok by user @rnatpakan, showing the woman falling from the bridge at the Ratchayothin Intersection in the Chatuchak district at about 7am yesterday, August 25. She…

  • Thailand NewsThai man loses 40,000 baht after allowing friend to access debit card | Thaiger

    Thai man loses 40,000 baht after allowing friend to access debit card

    A Thai man finally received justice nine years after losing 40,000 baht to a trusted friend, whom he had allowed access to his debit card and password. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested 65 year old Suthee, who had been evading capture for nine years. He was charged with two offences committed against his colleague in 2016, including: Section 269/5…

  • Thailand NewsTeen gunman arrested for shooting 15 year old girl on Pathum Thani road | Thaiger

    Teen gunman arrested for shooting 15 year old girl on Pathum Thani road

    Police arrested a teen gunman for shooting a 15 year old girl on a road in the central province of Pathum Thani, allegedly following a conflict with her male friend. Officers from Kukot Police Station were alerted to the shooting at about 4.30pm on Friday, August 22. The incident took place in Soi Samun Rattanakhon, Lat Sawai sub-district, Lam Luk Ka…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taxi driver arrested over alleged rape of foreign teacher | Thaiger

    Phuket taxi driver arrested over alleged rape of foreign teacher

    Police today, August 25, arrested an app-based taxi driver in Phuket for allegedly raping a foreign teacher in a roadside forest, although the suspect denied the accusation. The 28 year old victim, reportedly an African national, filed a complaint with Thalang Police Station on Saturday, August 23, accusing the taxi driver of sexual assault. According to the victim, she and…

  • Thailand NewsThai inmate caught after escaping coffee shop job to see newborn baby | Thaiger

    Thai inmate caught after escaping coffee shop job to see newborn baby

    A male inmate faces additional jail time after escaping from a prison in Nonthaburi near Bangkok on Saturday, August 23, allegedly because he missed his five month old baby. The Department of Corrections urged residents to assist officials in tracking down the prisoner, 33 year old Anuchit Sooksud, who escaped while working at Hubpoei Coffee Shop, operated by Nonthaburi Provincial…

  • Thailand NewsChinese-born Cambodian man attacked for eating neighbours’s crab | Thaiger

    Chinese-born Cambodian man attacked for eating neighbours’s crab

    A group of Chinese men and their Thai employee attacked a Chinese-born Cambodian neighbour in Chon Buri for eating crab worth 4,000 baht, which was wrongly delivered to his home. The 34 year old victim, identified as Mar Tu, shared CCTV footage of the incident with Thai news agencies in a bid to seek justice. He said he feared the…

  • Bangkok NewsThai actress faces drunk driving charge after refusing test at police checkpoint | Thaiger

    Thai actress faces drunk driving charge after refusing test at police checkpoint

    A renowned Thai actress is facing a drunk driving charge after refusing an alcohol test at a police checkpoint in Bangkok’s Wang Thong Lang district in the early hours of yesterday, August 24. Officers from Wang Thong Lang Police Station had set up a checkpoint on Pradit Manutham Road when they stopped a green Porsche driven by 33 year old…

  • Phuket NewsForeign teacher files rape complaint against Phuket app-based taxi driver | Thaiger

    Foreign teacher files rape complaint against Phuket app-based taxi driver

    Police are searching for an app-based taxi driver after a foreign teacher filed a rape complaint at Thalang Police Station in Phuket on Saturday, August 23. The 28 year old foreign victim lodged the complaint after being rescued by residents in the area. The Phuket Info Centre Facebook page reported that the victim is an African teacher, although officials have…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket car dealer takes legal action after Chinese man mocks him in viral video | Thaiger

    Phuket car dealer takes legal action after Chinese man mocks him in viral video

    A Thai owner of a second-hand car dealership in Phuket is pursuing legal action against a Chinese influencer for posting a video in which he mocked him in Chinese. The video gained traction among Thai netizens after it was reposted on the Facebook page ลุยจีน Luijeen on Wednesday, August 21. The page explained the situation and provided a translation of…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman caught smuggling drugs to boyfriend detained in police station | Thaiger

    Thai woman caught smuggling drugs to boyfriend detained in police station

    A Thai woman was caught attempting to smuggle drugs to her boyfriend while he was being held at a police station in the northern province of Chiang Rai. The 36 year old woman, identified as Nantacha, arrived at Mae Chan Police Station at around 7pm on Wednesday, August 20, requesting to deliver food to her boyfriend, Thewa, who had been…

  • Thailand News2 killed and 13 injured after rescue van runs red light in Rayong | Thaiger

    2 killed and 13 injured after rescue van runs red light in Rayong

    Two Thai students lost their lives while 13 others were injured after a rescue van ran a red light at an intersection in Rayong province and collided with a hatchback. A security camera at an Intersection in Ban Chang district captured the shocking accident, which occurred at about 4.30pm yesterday, August 21. The rescue van was seen speeding through a…

  • Thailand NewsFrontline soldier returns home after mother fatally stabbed by her customer | Thaiger

    Frontline soldier returns home after mother fatally stabbed by her customer

    A frontline soldier returned from duty at the border to attend the funeral of his mother, who was fatally stabbed by a female customer at her restaurant in Kamphaeng Phet province on Wednesday, August 20. Police arrested the 32 year old suspect, Jaruwan Jaifai, at her family home on Wednesday after she stabbed 62 year old restaurant owner Meena Pattatha.…

  • Bangkok News4 Vietnamese arrested for turning Bangkok house into drug factory | Thaiger

    4 Vietnamese arrested for turning Bangkok house into drug factory

    Police arrested four Vietnamese nationals for transforming a rented house in the Lat Phrao area of Bangkok into a drug production facility. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) disclosed details of the arrests during a press conference yesterday, August 21, following the apprehension of the suspects in mid-August. The operation stemmed from discussions during the Thailand-Vietnam Bilateral Meeting…

  • Pattaya News2 Chinese men hunted after holding Thai woman captive in Pattaya | Thaiger

    2 Chinese men hunted after holding Thai woman captive in Pattaya

    Two Chinese men are on the run after holding the Thai wife of a compatriot captive at a house in Pattaya earlier today, August 22. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to a house in a village on Soi Bongkot, South Pattaya, at around 3am to assist the woman, whose identity was not disclosed. The victim was reportedly…

  • Crime NewsRussian man sacrifices life to save girlfriend in Phuket waters | Thaiger

    Russian man sacrifices life to save girlfriend in Phuket waters

    A Russian man drowned after saving his girlfriend’s life during a late-night swim between Banana and Nai Thon beaches in Phuket yesterday, August 21. The Russian woman, 24 year old Kamila Sharipova, sought help at about 12.30am after her boyfriend, 35 year old Denis Nonenkov, disappeared into the dark waters at a Phuket beach. The incident occurred outside the Andaman…

  • Bangkok News2 doctors face jail time after cosmetic surgery leaves woman in coma | Thaiger

    2 doctors face jail time after cosmetic surgery leaves woman in coma

    A Thai doctor, who owned a clinic in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, faces six months in prison after a cosmetic surgery performed six years ago left a woman in a coma. Another doctor who owns the clinic faces three months behind bars. In 2019, 31 year old Apiphu Hirunyanit filed a complaint with Sutthisan Police Station after his younger sister,…

  • Thailand NewsThai vendor offers 50,000 baht reward after 10 million baht amulet heist | Thaiger

    Thai vendor offers 50,000 baht reward after 10 million baht amulet heist

    A Thai amulet vendor is offering a reward of 50,000 baht for information that could lead to the arrest of a thief who stole amulets worth more than 10 million baht from his shop in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. The well-known amulet vendor, Parkpoom “Bung” Watcharayu, appealed to news agencies and the online community after his police complaint…

  • Thailand NewsAnimal lovers call for action on Songkhla man after over 10 adoptive cats die | Thaiger

    Animal lovers call for action on Songkhla man after over 10 adoptive cats die

    Animal lovers in the southern province of Songkhla are demanding legal action against a Thai man after he adopted more than ten cats that later died under his care. A cat lovers’ group in Songkhla urged the animal welfare organisation The Hope Songkhla to investigate a man named Pond, who adopted over ten stray cats and subsequently blocked the original…

  • Thailand NewsThai couple confesses to killing newborn and burning body in Khon Kaen | Thaiger

    Thai couple confesses to killing newborn and burning body in Khon Kaen

    A Thai couple confessed to killing their newborn baby and burning the body in a charcoal kiln at a friend’s home in Khon Kaen province. A local in the Ban Fang district of Khon Kaen discovered the corpse of the newborn in a charcoal kiln in a sugar cane field on August 17 and reported it to Ban Fang Police…

  • Thailand NewsTeacher’s husband apologises after running over schoolboy in a pickup truck | Thaiger

    Teacher’s husband apologises after running over schoolboy in a pickup truck

    A teacher’s husband issued an apology after running his pickup over a 12 year old schoolboy in Udon Thani, claiming he did not notice the boy sitting at the spot. The 12 year old Thai boy, Tang, suffered a broken pelvis after the driver, 53 year old Phan, ran over him while he was sitting in the activity area after…

  • Thailand NewsOfficials discover 20 preserved bodies at AIDS treatment temple | Thaiger

    Officials discover 20 preserved bodies at AIDS treatment temple

    Officials from the Ministry of Public Health raided Phra Bat Nampu Temple in the central province of Lop Buri, where they discovered 20 bodies of AIDS patients illegally preserved and displayed in a museum within the temple. Phra Bat Nampu Temple, also known as the AIDS temple, has long been running donation campaigns to raise funds for underprivileged AIDS patients.…