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.
  • Thailand News3 Thai men arrested in Ecuador with 12 rare Galápagos iguanas | Thaiger

    3 Thai men arrested in Ecuador with 12 rare Galápagos iguanas

    Three Thai nationals were arrested at an airport in Ecuador for wildlife smuggling after 12 rare marine iguanas were discovered hidden in their luggage. Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy said the animals were found during baggage inspections at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil on Tuesday, May 19. Officials said specially trained K9 dogs used for wildlife…

  • Central Thailand NewsJealous Thai rescuer allegedly threatens to kill wife, steals valuables | Thaiger

    Jealous Thai rescuer allegedly threatens to kill wife, steals valuables

    A woman in Nonthaburi accused her husband, a volunteer rescuer, of physically assaulting and threatening to kill her during a fit of jealousy before stealing valuables worth more than 600,000 baht. The victim, 44 year old Promphit, sought help from the Nonthaburi Member of Parliament (MP) assistants to Kraithawat Thammatada and Saichon Nitkham, who accompanied her to file a complaint at…

  • Phuket NewsAustrian man deported for blocking road and demanding money in Phuket | Thaiger

    Austrian man deported for blocking road and demanding money in Phuket

    Phuket immigration police revoked the visa of an Austrian tourist and prepared to deport him after he caused public disturbances in Rawai by blocking roads and demanding money from residents and tourists. Videos showing the man’s behaviour circulated on Thai social media on Tuesday, May 19. The suspect was later identified as 39 year old Austrian national, Raphael. In the…

  • Central Thailand NewsNigerian suspect arrested in Nonthaburi with 7 bank cards and 42 mobile phones | Thaiger

    Nigerian suspect arrested in Nonthaburi with 7 bank cards and 42 mobile phones

    Police arrested a Nigerian man suspected of involvement in a romance scam network in Nonthaburi after discovering dozens of mobile phones and bank cards. Rattanathibet Police Station superintendent Prut Jamroonsarn announced details of the arrest at about 6pm yesterday, May 20. The suspect was identified as 24 year old Nigerian national Sinedu Heophilus Acege. Prut said officers had been conducting…

  • Koh Samui News4 travel agencies on Koh Samui found operating through Thai nominees | Thaiger

    4 travel agencies on Koh Samui found operating through Thai nominees

    Southern Tourism Business and Tour Guide Registration Office revoked the licences of four illegal travel agencies on Koh Samui for operating through Thai nominees. The revocation followed an expanded crackdown on nominee-run businesses across Thailand. Koh Samui Tourist Police and the Surat Thani Tourism and Sports Office inspected 12 suspicious travel agencies on the island and found four operating illegally. Under…

  • Phuket NewsForeigner criticised for paying Phuket man to pass police checkpoint | Thaiger

    Foreigner criticised for paying Phuket man to pass police checkpoint

    A foreign tourist was caught on video paying a Thai food delivery rider to ride a rental motorcycle through a police checkpoint in Phuket, prompting speculation online about his motives. The incident was first shared by the food delivery rider on his social media account before being reposted by the Shadow Phuket Facebook page, where it attracted widespread attention. The…

  • Phuket NewsSwede surrenders after attacking Indian hotel owner in Phuket | Thaiger

    Swede surrenders after attacking Indian hotel owner in Phuket

    A Swedish man surrendered to Phuket police yesterday, May 19, after assaulting an Indian man outside a hotel in Patong following a dispute over missing money. Footage of the incident was shared by the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page yesterday, but the incident reportedly took place on Monday, May 18, outside the Patong Platinum Hotel. The suspect was identified as a…

  • Thailand NewsChinese woman arrested for illegally working as land broker | Thaiger

    Chinese woman arrested for illegally working as land broker

    Immigration police in Chon Buri arrested a Chinese woman yesterday, May 19, for working illegally as a land broker while meeting Chinese investors in Sri Racha district. Officers from the Chon Buri Provincial Immigration Office said they had been monitoring the activities of the suspect, identified as 43 year old Anhan, after discovering videos she posted on the WeChat application…

  • Thailand NewsKanchanaburi man killed after car crashes into wild elephants | Thaiger

    Kanchanaburi man killed after car crashes into wild elephants

    A Thai man died, and two others were injured after a sedan reportedly crashed into wild elephants before catching fire on a road in Kanchanaburi province yesterday, May 19. Lad Ya Police Station officers told KhaoSod the crash occurred at about 9pm on Highway No. 323 heading towards central Kanchanaburi. Rangers from Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, rescue workers and medical…

  • Thailand NewsSingha removes senior family figure over sexual assault allegations | Thaiger

    Singha removes senior family figure over sexual assault allegations

    Boon Rawd Brewery, renowned for its Singha and Leo beers, removed Sunit “Pi” Scott from all company positions following sexual assault allegations made against him by his younger brother, Siranudh “Psi” Scott. Psi publicly accused Pi of repeatedly sexually assaulting him during their childhood. He released a video describing the abuse and shared a voice recording as evidence, which showed a…

  • Politics NewsEnvironment minister apologises after tense exchange with journalist | Thaiger

    Environment minister apologises after tense exchange with journalist

    Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin apologised to a journalist after displaying aggressive behaviour during an interview about alleged corruption within the Pollution Control Department. The incident followed the release of a survey by the Zero Corruption working group under the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB), which reportedly found the Pollution Control Department had the…

  • Phuket NewsRussian man arrested with large drug haul on Phuket-Pattaya bus | Thaiger

    Russian man arrested with large drug haul on Phuket-Pattaya bus

    A Russian man was arrested at a Phuket checkpoint yesterday, May 18, after police found multiple types of drugs in his backpack during a search on a coach bus travelling to Pattaya. Officers at the Tha Chat Chai Checkpoint in Mai Khao subdistrict, Thalang district, stopped a Phuket-Pattaya coach bus for routine inspections and requested identification documents from passengers. Police…

  • Visa InformationThai Cabinet officially ends 60-day visa-free scheme | Thaiger

    Thai Cabinet officially ends 60-day visa-free scheme

    Thailand’s Cabinet officially approved the cancellation of the 60-day visa-free scheme following a proposal from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, with revised visa categories for each country expected to be announced later. The visa-free programme previously allowed travellers from more than 90 countries to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa. The policy expanded an…

  • Bangkok NewsMinistry of Transport to cancel trains to inner Bangkok to improve road safety | Thaiger

    Ministry of Transport to cancel trains to inner Bangkok to improve road safety

    Thailand’s Ministry of Transport plans to cancel trains heading to inner Bangkok and tighten safety measures within three months following the fatal bus and train collision on May 16. Officials from several government agencies are continuing investigations into the cause of the crash while also reviewing long-term safety improvements aimed at preventing similar incidents. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on…

  • Thailand NewsChon Buri woman reports drugging and raping by bar worker | Thaiger

    Chon Buri woman reports drugging and raping by bar worker

    A Thai woman is seeking justice after a bar worker in Sri Racha district of Chon Buri allegedly drugged her with a ketamine-laced e-cigarette, known locally as Pod K, before raping her. The 20 year old victim, Chidapa, shared details of the alleged incident with several Thai media outlets after reporting the case to police yesterday, May 18. She said…

  • Crime NewsBangkok delivery rider struck by train near recent fatal collision scene | Thaiger

    Bangkok delivery rider struck by train near recent fatal collision scene

    A food delivery rider suffered serious injuries after being struck by a train while urinating next to the railway track along Kampaengphet 7 Road, near the site of the recent fatal collision between a train and a bus. Rescue workers were called to the railway track near the Mercure Bangkok Makkasan hotel at about 11am. The injured man, whose identity…

  • Pattaya NewsThai teen finds American man’s body hanging over Pattaya condo balcony | Thaiger

    Thai teen finds American man’s body hanging over Pattaya condo balcony

    Police are investigating the death of an American man whose body was found hanging over the balcony of a condominium in Pattaya yesterday, May 18. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to the seven-storey condominium on Jomtien Sai Song Road after a Thai teenager reported seeing a body hanging from a balcony on the sixth floor. At the…

  • Bangkok NewsRailway officials temporarily released after deadly collision in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Railway officials temporarily released after deadly collision in Bangkok

    The Criminal Court temporarily released the train driver and station manager charged in connection with the deadly train-bus collision in Bangkok. The collision between a container train and a public bus occurred at Asok Railway Station on Saturday, May 16. The crash killed eight people, injured more than 30 others, and also damaged several vehicles. Investigators are continuing efforts to…

  • Phuket NewsCCTV captures souvenir theft by foreign woman in Phuket | Thaiger

    CCTV captures souvenir theft by foreign woman in Phuket

    A foreign woman was caught on CCTV stealing a souvenir from a shop in the Thalang district in Phuket yesterday, May 17. Footage from the shop’s security cameras was shared on the Phuket Times Facebook page to warn other business owners in the area and help identify the suspect. The shop owner said the incident occurred at about 3.45pm. In…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok selected for final stage of Eurovision Song Contest Asia | Thaiger

    Bangkok selected for final stage of Eurovision Song Contest Asia

    The Eurovision Song Contest will expand into Asia for the first time this year, with Bangkok selected to host the grand final of Eurovision Song Contest Asia on November 14. The official Eurovision Instagram account, @eurovision, announced the launch of Eurovision Song Contest Asia in March. Aside from being the first expansion of Asia, the event also marks the 70th…

  • Krabi NewsSearch underway for Dutch man missing off Railay Beach in Krabi | Thaiger

    Search underway for Dutch man missing off Railay Beach in Krabi

    A Dutch tourist remains missing after a kayak overturned in rough seas off Railay Beach in Krabi on Saturday, May 16, while his daughter was rescued safely. Rangers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park were alerted to the incident in Railay Bay involving a Dutch man, believed to be about 60 years old, and his daughter. According…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket locals demand action after foreign teens damage property | Thaiger

    Phuket locals demand action after foreign teens damage property

    Police arrested four foreign teenagers yesterday, May 17, after they stole and damaged a lamp shade outside a resident’s home in Phuket. The incident was reported by the Phuket Times Facebook page, which also shared CCTV footage of the theft. The incident took place on Phang Nga Road in the Phuket Old Town area. In the video, one of the…

  • Bangkok NewsFamilies search for missing members after train-bus collision in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Families search for missing members after train-bus collision in Bangkok

    Families of those involved in the deadly collision between a train and a public bus in the Asok area of Bangkok are awaiting autopsy results to confirm the identities of the victims, while several relatives continue hoping their loved ones survived the incident. Eight people were confirmed dead after a container train collided with public bus route 206 beneath Airport…

  • Bangkok NewsPM Anutin considers tunnel after fatal collision on railway track | Thaiger

    PM Anutin considers tunnel after fatal collision on railway track

    Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government plans to reduce the number of train crossing points in Bangkok following the fatal collision between a container train and a public bus in Asok on Saturday, May 16. The crash occurred at the intersection where Asok-Din Daeng Road crosses a railway track beneath Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station. The area is known…

  • Bangkok NewsAt least 8 people killed in Bangkok rail crossing collision | Thaiger

    At least 8 people killed in Bangkok rail crossing collision

    At least eight people were killed, and more than 10 were injured after a train collided with a public bus near Makkasan Airport Rail Link Station in Bangkok today, May 16. The crash occurred at around 3.40pm on Asok-Din Daeng Road beneath the Makkasan Airport Rail Link Station in the Asok area. Firefighters from Phaya Thai district and rescue workers…

  • Pattaya NewsSwedish man reports over 100,000 baht stolen by Pattaya transwomen | Thaiger

    Swedish man reports over 100,000 baht stolen by Pattaya transwomen

    A Swedish tourist reported losing more than 100,000 baht in cash after being robbed a group of Thai transwomen at a condominium in Pattaya early today, May 15. Police from Mueang Pattaya Police Station received the complaint from the victim, identified as 67 year old Mahmoud, at around 3.40am before travelling to the condominium to investigate the incident. According to…

  • Bangkok NewsSoap scraps reused at cosmetic product manufacturing site in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Soap scraps reused at cosmetic product manufacturing site in Bangkok

    Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers raided an unlicensed production site in Bangkok and discovered soap manufactured from soap scraps collected from multiple factories. The Consumer Protection Police Division launched the investigation following complaints from consumers who experienced allergic reactions and other health problems linked to cosmetic products sold online. During the operation, investigators identified a residence in Bang Khae district that…

  • World NewsThai riders share mixed responses against ‘Global Switch Off’ campaign | Thaiger

    Thai riders share mixed responses against ‘Global Switch Off’ campaign

    Thai app-based riders raised mixed responses after an encouragement to join an international protest campaign, Global Switch Off, today, May 15, by temporarily shutting down digital platforms to demand stronger labour protections from companies. Gig workers include freelancers and independent contractors who work through digital applications, such as food delivery riders and ride-hailing drivers. Many platform companies classify workers as “partners”…

  • Thailand NewsKhon Kaen family warns public after finding tissue paper in fish ball | Thaiger

    Khon Kaen family warns public after finding tissue paper in fish ball

    A family in Khon Kaen has issued a public warning after discovering tissue paper stuffed inside a fish ball purchased from a street food stall at Kaen Nakhon Lake. The incident gained attention after the family shared photos and videos in a Facebook group for Khon Kaen residents. According to the post, the fish ball stall was located near the…

  • Pattaya NewsLocal fisherman finds invasive blackchin tilapia off Pattaya Beach | Thaiger

    Local fisherman finds invasive blackchin tilapia off Pattaya Beach

    The discovery of blackchin tilapia off Pattaya Beach raised concerns among residents and environmental experts over the potential impact of the invasive species on local marine ecosystems. A local fisherman with more than 20,000 followers on his Facebook page, Tart Channel, shared videos yesterday, May 14, showing blackchin tilapia caught near Pattaya Beach. In the caption accompanying the footage, he wrote……