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.
  • Aviation NewsAOT to raise passenger service charge for international flights from May | Thaiger

    AOT to raise passenger service charge for international flights from May

    Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed plans to increase the passenger service charge (PSC) for international departures in May this year. While the increase will largely affect foreign travellers, AOT insisted that it will not reduce the number of international visitors to Thailand. The chief executive officer of AOT, Paweena Jariyathitipong, told local media that the PSC for passengers departing on international…

  • Thailand NewsPublic backlash erupts over ECT mistakes in advance voting | Thaiger

    Public backlash erupts over ECT mistakes in advance voting

    Public criticism mounted against officials from the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) following a series of mistakes reported during Thailand’s advanced voting yesterday, February 1. The ECT scheduled February 1 for advance voting ahead of the official General Election on February 8. It is designed to allow eligible Thai citizens who live outside their registered home provinces, or who are…

  • Thailand NewsTruck snags wires and pulls down 70 power poles in Samut Prakan | Thaiger

    Truck snags wires and pulls down 70 power poles in Samut Prakan

    A truck snagged on communication wires and later pulled down more than 70 electricity poles along a road in the Bang Pu area of Samut Prakan province today, January 30, causing widespread power outages in the area and nearby. Officers from Bang Pu Police Station were alerted to the accident at around 1pm. The incident occurred on a bridge at…

  • Thailand NewsChiang Rai family exhumes body after ‘dead’ son walks back home | Thaiger

    Chiang Rai family exhumes body after ‘dead’ son walks back home

    A Thai man believed to be dead returned to his home in Chiang Rai province on January 24, leaving his family stunned and forcing them to exhume a body they had already buried, only to discover it was his friend, not him. Rescuers from the Thap Yang Sataranakusol Foundation were asked to assist a family in the Mae Fah Luang…

  • Thailand NewsPattaya rolls out colour-coded beach umbrellas to boost seaside views | Thaiger

    Pattaya rolls out colour-coded beach umbrellas to boost seaside views

    Pattaya introduced new rule assigning specific umbrella colours to beach chair operators, saying the move will improve orderliness and create a more attractive seaside view for visitors. The mayor of Pattaya City, Porramate Ngampichate, shared the update on his official Facebook page yesterday, January 29, stating that umbrella colours and designs above beach chairs across the city would be standardised…

  • Pattaya NewsAmerican motorcyclist killed in Pattaya head-on crash with SUV | Thaiger

    American motorcyclist killed in Pattaya head-on crash with SUV

    An American motorcyclist lost his life after crashing into an SUV in the opposite lane on a road in Pattaya last night, January 29. Officers from Nong Prue Police Station and rescuers from Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Foundation were alerted to the fatal accident on Pong Overpass above Number 35 Road in the Bang Lamung district at around 10pm. Upon arrival,…

  • Pattaya NewsSwiss national among 30 arrested in Pattaya drug crackdown | Thaiger

    Swiss national among 30 arrested in Pattaya drug crackdown

    Officers from the Bang Lamung District Office arrested 30 drug suspects, including a Swiss national, during a major crackdown at two accommodation sites in central and northern Pattaya on Monday, January 26. District officials launched the first raid at Boom Boom House apartment in central Pattaya after receiving repeated complaints from local residents. The residents reported that the accommodation became…

  • Phuket NewsDutch man held at Phuket Airport over assault on Thai vendor | Thaiger

    Dutch man held at Phuket Airport over assault on Thai vendor

    Police arrested a Dutch man at Phuket International Airport yesterday, January 29, after he and three friends assaulted a Thai street vendor during a parking dispute in Patong last week. The owner of a beverage stall called Isaan Cafe, whose name was withheld, filed a complaint with Patong Police Station following the incident, which occurred at around 9.30pm on Saturday,…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya taxi rider criticised after arguing with Russian women over fare | Thaiger

    Pattaya taxi rider criticised after arguing with Russian women over fare

    A Pattaya app-based motorcycle taxi rider took to social media to condemn two Russian women for refusing to pay an additional fare for travelling together, but many netizens disagreed with him and instead condemned the rider for breaking traffic laws by carrying two passengers on a single motorcycle. The rider, whose identity has not been disclosed, shared a video online showing…

  • Krabi NewsIllegal paragliding leaves British tourist injured on Krabi cliff | Thaiger

    Illegal paragliding leaves British tourist injured on Krabi cliff

    A British man sustained leg injuries after illegally paragliding within Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi province and crashing into a cliff at a height of around 60 to 70 metres above the ground. National park rangers discovered the paragliding accident while conducting a routine patrol near Ton Sai Beach, in the western area of Ao Railay,…

  • Bangkok NewsIranian man arrested for pickpocketing Chinese tourist in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Iranian man arrested for pickpocketing Chinese tourist in Bangkok

    Police arrested an Iranian man after he tricked a Chinese national into showing his money before pickpocketing him at an MRT station in Bangkok. The Chinese victim filed a complaint with Huai Khwang Police Station after the incident occurred while he was waiting for a train at MRT Rama 9 Station. According to the victim, the suspect appeared to be…

  • Thailand NewsThai netizens react after Japanese living statue hits actress’s son on head | Thaiger

    Thai netizens react after Japanese living statue hits actress’s son on head

    A living statue street performer in Japan sparked backlash among Thai netizens after slapping the son of a Thai actress on the head. However, the boy’s parents later forgave the performer, saying the incident was a misunderstanding and confirming they would not pursue legal action. The incident came to public attention after the family of Thai actress Sarocha “Bua” Viriuamettakul,…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman vanishes after travelling to Laos with American ex-husband | Thaiger

    Thai woman vanishes after travelling to Laos with American ex-husband

    A Thai-born American man becomes the main suspect in the disappearance of his Thai ex-wife after they travelled to Laos together. He denied any involvement and said he will only speak through a lawyer. The missing woman is 45 year old Thatsanee Saelee, a Thai national from the Hmong ethnic group. According to her son, Winyu, Thatsanee lost contact with him…

  • Thailand NewsThai singer breaks down on stage after father critically injured in car accident | Thaiger

    Thai singer breaks down on stage after father critically injured in car accident

    The father of a Thai singer is in critical condition after a pickup truck crashed into his motorcycle in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok yesterday, January 28. The singer later broke down in tears on stage, saying doctors had told her that her father has only a 10% chance of survival. Officers from Chaiyaphruek Police Station, emergency medical staff from Pak…

  • Phuket NewsPakistani man caught and beaten for stealing cannabis in Phuket | Thaiger

    Pakistani man caught and beaten for stealing cannabis in Phuket

    Cannabis shop owners and witnesses in Phuket chased after and assaulted a Pakistani man after he stole a jar of cannabis from a store in Patong before handing him over to police. A female cannabis shop owner filed a complaint with officers at Patong Police Station yesterday, January 28, after a group of tourists, reported to be Pakistani nationals, stole…

  • Crime NewsChinese man runs car over friend and kills him outside Pattaya hotel | Thaiger

    Chinese man runs car over friend and kills him outside Pattaya hotel

    A Chinese man called rescuers to help his friend after accidentally running his car over him outside a hotel in Pattaya, telling authorities that he did not see the victim. Rescuers from the Sawang Boriboon Dhammastan Rescue Foundation rushed to a hotel in the Jomtien area of Pattaya to assist the victim, a 40 year old Chinese man whose name…

  • Thailand NewsThai man escapes death after stray bullets hit pillow while sleeping | Thaiger

    Thai man escapes death after stray bullets hit pillow while sleeping

    A Thai man narrowly escaped injury after two stray bullets were fired into his home in Ayutthaya province and struck his pillow while he was sleeping on January 20. He later made the incident public after police failed to provide any update on the case. The victim, 31 year old Weerasak Wichitkarnpana, shared photos of the damage to his house…

  • Chiang Mai NewsSpanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash | Thaiger

    Spanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash

    A Spanish woman and a Thai food vendor sustained serious injuries after a Grab driver crashed his electric car near the old city moat in Chiang Mai this morning, January 28. Locals who witnessed the accident at around 7.40am alerted officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station and rescue teams to assist the victims. The Spanish woman and a Thai…

  • Bangkok NewsPolice bust Thai-Vietnamese mule account gang during Bangkok meetup | Thaiger

    Police bust Thai-Vietnamese mule account gang during Bangkok meetup

    Police arrested a Vietnamese national and four Thai suspects in Bangkok on Monday, January 26, while they were meeting to purchase mule bank accounts for scam operations. Officers from Sutthisan Police Station received a tip-off that a criminal gang involving Thai and Vietnamese nationals was persuading people to sell their bank accounts. Police believed the accounts were being used for…

  • Thailand NewsSuspected drunk pickup driver kills father of two in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Suspected drunk pickup driver kills father of two in Chon Buri

    A pickup truck driver rammed into a motorcycle and killed the rider on a road within a residential community in Chon Buri on Saturday night, January 24. Witnesses suspect the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Dashcam footage from a parked vehicle captured the fatal crash in Soi Ban Kao 12 in the Panthong district. The footage shows a…

  • Koh Samui NewsDanish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Danish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui

    Police arrested a Danish man after he stole a safe containing land and property documents worth around 100 million baht from a luxury villa owned by a Chinese national on Koh Samui before fleeing to Krabi. The Chinese victim filed a complaint with Bor Phud Police Station after discovering that a safe was stolen from the luxury villa in Soi Khao…

  • Bangkok NewsSuvarnabhumi Airport denies attempted hijacking after old video sparks panic | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi Airport denies attempted hijacking after old video sparks panic

    Suvarnabhumi International Airport denied reports of an attempted aircraft hijacking after an old video was reposted on a Facebook page, prompting panic among the public. The airport announced plans to take legal action against the page administrator for spreading misleading information. The Facebook page ข่าวสดช่อง 8 (Channel 8 News) shared the video on Monday, January 26, with a caption stating,…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya tomboy exposes naked foreigner online after he ignores her warning | Thaiger

    Pattaya tomboy exposes naked foreigner online after he ignores her warning

    A Thai tomboy encountered a naked foreign man on a beach in Pattaya and asked him to put on his shorts, but he ignored her warning, prompting her to expose him on social media. The tomboy, Sureesri “Ant” Ruengsuksood, shared a video of the foreign man on her Facebook account on Monday, January 26. In the caption, Ant wrote… “He…

  • Phuket NewsTurkish motorcyclist killed in crash with two vans in Phuket | Thaiger

    Turkish motorcyclist killed in crash with two vans in Phuket

    A Turkish motorcyclist lost his life after colliding with two vans on Patak Road in Phuket in the early hours of today, January 28. Officers from Karon Police Station investigated the accident at the Le Meridien Hotel intersection on Patak Road in the Karon district at around 12.35am. Rescuers from Kusol Dham Phuket Foundation also rushed to the scene in…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman accuses monk of groping her during blessing ceremony | Thaiger

    Thai woman accuses monk of groping her during blessing ceremony

    A Thai woman accused a well-known monk at a temple in Pathum Thani province of sexually assaulting by grouping her breasts during a blessing ceremony for good fortune and business success. The allegation came to public attention after a Thai woman, identified only as Emmy, shared details of the sexual assault on social media. According to her post, the victim…

  • Bangkok NewsViral videos sparks prove into cat abuse at Bangkok cafe | Thaiger

    Viral videos sparks prove into cat abuse at Bangkok cafe

    Authorities launched an investigation after viral videos showed a man abusing cats at a cat café in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district, sparking widespread outrage among Thai netizens. Three videos showing the animal abuse were shared by an online user in the Facebook group of Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT). The man in the footage was initially believed to be the owner of…

  • Thailand NewsThai soldier shoots social media influencer’s brother in jealous rage | Thaiger

    Thai soldier shoots social media influencer’s brother in jealous rage

    A Thai soldier shot at the brother-in-law of a well-known female social media influencer in Udon Thani province over adultery accusation, prompting the influencer to make the matter public in a bid to seek justice and protect her family. The incident occurred on Sunday, January 25, and was later revealed by social media influencer Soraya “Aum” Upaiprom, also known online…

  • Thailand NewsNew Thai court platform allows direct requests to delete explicit content | Thaiger

    New Thai court platform allows direct requests to delete explicit content

    The Court of Justice of Thailand yesterday, January 26, launched a new online platform allowing the public to report explicit content and request its removal 24 hours a day, in response to recently revised sex crime laws. The Court of Justice spokesperson, Suriyan Hongwilai, announced that this marks the first time in Thailand that victims and people affected by cyber…

  • Thailand NewsChild set off firecrackers under bridge, causing 1 million baht in damage | Thaiger

    Child set off firecrackers under bridge, causing 1 million baht in damage

    Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is seeking around 1 million baht in compensation from the parents of a child after firecrackers were set off that damaged Bhumibol 2 Bridge. The fire broke out at a pier of the Bhumibol 2 Bridge in Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan, on the evening of January 15. The blaze spread to a drainage pipe and later…

  • Phuket News3 Frenchmen flee after attacking Phuket food vendor in parking row | Thaiger

    3 Frenchmen flee after attacking Phuket food vendor in parking row

    Three Frenchmen escaped after gang attacking a Thai food vendor in Phuket on Sunday, January 25, following a dispute over parking. The owner of a roadside food stall on Soi Na Nai 3 in the Patong sub-district shared CCTV footage of the incident with the news Facebook page Newshawk Phuket yesterday. The video shows a foreign man wearing a white…