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 NewsBritish man arrested for traffic island stunt, indecency, and Yaba use | Thaiger

    British man arrested for traffic island stunt, indecency, and Yaba use

    Phuket police arrested a British national after a viral video showed him driving on a traffic island, using methamphetamine (Yaba), and urinating on road. The 24 year old British national, Lee Terry Obrien, was arrested yesterday, Sunday, January 11, after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media. The video, originally shared by local news outlet Newshawk Phuket, showed the…

  • Bangkok NewsThai police strangled in Bangkok traffic dispute, suspect still at large | Thaiger

    Thai police strangled in Bangkok traffic dispute, suspect still at large

    A Thai man remains at large after strangling a police officer during a road rage incident in the Don Mueang area of Bangkok on Thursday, January 8. The injured officer, Police Sergeant Satawat Seirattanapong, shared CCTV footage and details of the incident on his Facebook page on Friday, January 9, one day after the altercation. The confrontation reportedly occurred on…

  • Crime NewsThai man and 9 foreigners arrested during Chon Buri gambling den raid | Thaiger

    Thai man and 9 foreigners arrested during Chon Buri gambling den raid

    Immigration Bureau officers raided an illegal gambling den at a luxury housing estate in Chon Buri on Saturday, December 10, arresting 10 suspects, including one Thai national and nine foreigners. The raid followed information obtained from a Chinese man identified as Dahua, who had previously been arrested for illegally selling laughing gas, or nitrous oxide. Dahua reportedly sold the substance…

  • Crime NewsDrug suspect escapes after police officer grants ‘farewell’ release | Thaiger

    Drug suspect escapes after police officer grants ‘farewell’ release

    A police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat was dismissed from government service after releasing his friend, a detained drug suspect, who later escaped from custody. The officer claimed the suspect deceived him by saying he wanted to say goodbye to his family before imprisonment. The suspect, Ekkaluck Datepalit, was arrested on Saturday, January 10, for possession of a Category 1…

  • Thailand NewsLost British cyclist safely rescued from Chiang Mai forest | Thaiger

    Lost British cyclist safely rescued from Chiang Mai forest

    Thai rescue teams yesterday, January 12, successfully located a British cyclist who became lost in a forest while cycling towards Chiang Mai city centre. The Chiang Mai Provincial Police Office coordinated with the Phrao Wang Hin Rescue Foundation after the cyclist, 63 year old British national Gordon Dewar, contacted authorities to request assistance. Rescue teams quickly mobilised volunteer motocross riders,…

  • Thailand NewsRussian teen killed after speedboat hits fishing boat in Krabi | Thaiger

    Russian teen killed after speedboat hits fishing boat in Krabi

    A Russian tourist lost her life and at least 11 others were injured after a speedboat collided with a fishing boat in the sea off Krabi yesterday, January 11. Authorities later found methamphetamine (Yaba), cannabis, and kratom aboard the speedboat, and the driver tested positive for drugs. Officers from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre were alerted to the collision…

  • Koh Samui NewsRussian extortion suspect caught relaxing at Koh Samui luxury hotel | Thaiger

    Russian extortion suspect caught relaxing at Koh Samui luxury hotel

    Police arrested a Russian man on the resort island of Koh Samui in Surat Thani yesterday, January 8, for extorting 1 million rubles, or nearly 400,000 baht, from a car dealership chief executive in Russia. The arrest followed a request for cooperation from the Russian Embassy in Thailand, which asked Thai authorities to help locate and detain the suspect, identified…

  • Thailand NewsForeign motorcyclist clashes with Thai rider during traffic jam | Thaiger

    Foreign motorcyclist clashes with Thai rider during traffic jam

    A video of a heated road argument between a foreign motorcyclist and a Thai rider has gone viral, showing them exchanging pushes during heavy traffic congestion. The dispute came to public attention after the Facebook page เจ๊ม้อย v+ shared footage of the incident yesterday, January 8. The exact location of the altercation was not disclosed, and the identities of both…

  • Thailand NewsThai man stabbed by ex-girlfriend new partner in Nonthaburi | Thaiger

    Thai man stabbed by ex-girlfriend new partner in Nonthaburi

    A Thai man accused his ex-girlfriend of deceiving him into meeting her new partner, who stabbed him in the neck in Nonthaburi province. The victim managed to drive himself to Samut Prakan to seek help despite his serious injuries. The injured man, 34 year old Thai man Bordin, contacted a colleague at around 9.30am yesterday, January 8, asking for urgent…

  • Chiang Mai NewsSuspicion raised in Chiang Mai house fire that kills family of 5 | Thaiger

    Suspicion raised in Chiang Mai house fire that kills family of 5

    Police launched a deeper investigation into a deadly house fire in Chiang Mai province that claimed the lives of five family members, after officials raised concerns that the blaze may not be an accident. The fire broke out at around midnight yesterday, January 8, at a two-storey house in the Pa Dad sub-district of Chiang Mai. All five occupants were…

  • Thailand NewsMissing Nonthaburi woman contacts father, says she flees abuse and double life | Thaiger

    Missing Nonthaburi woman contacts father, says she flees abuse and double life

    A Thai woman, who was reported missing after boarding a pink taxi in Nonthaburi, contacted her father, saying she fled her home to escape domestic abuse and her husband’s double life. The case first drew public attention after 44 year old Thai man Kosin Chatlertchai appealed to the online community for help in locating his wife, 30 year old Thai…

  • Pattaya NewsChinese suspect in call centre scam and South Korean murder arrested in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Chinese suspect in call centre scam and South Korean murder arrested in Pattaya

    Officers from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a Chinese man in Pattaya for his involvement in a call centre scam operation and the murder of a South Korean student in a neighbouring country. The arrest was carried out yesterday, January 8, by CIB officers working alongside the Anti Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (ACIB), in coordination with South Korean authorities.…

  • Thailand NewsThai students claim top prize at Harbin snow sculpture contest | Thaiger

    Thai students claim top prize at Harbin snow sculpture contest

    Thai vocational students from Bangkok and Chiang Rai won the 2026 International Collegiate Snow Sculpture Contest in Harbin, China, with a sculpture inspired by the Siamese fighting fish and goddess of water. The annual snow sculpture contest, organised by Harbin Engineering University, returned for its 18th edition this year. The competition was held from January 4 to 7 in Harbin,…

  • Thailand NewsHidden camera exposes Thai resort staff using guest’s personal items | Thaiger

    Hidden camera exposes Thai resort staff using guest’s personal items

    A Thai woman issued a public warning after discovering that resort staff secretly used her personal belongings while she was away from her room. The woman shared footage of the incident on her TikTok account, @hydemylxu03, yesterday, January 7. She did not disclose the name or exact location of the resort, but many netizens speculated it was in Nakhon Ratchasima province…

  • Bangkok NewsWat Arun issues apology, tightens rules for photographers after complaints | Thaiger

    Wat Arun issues apology, tightens rules for photographers after complaints

    Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan issued an official apology following public backlash over the behaviour of some local photographers accused of disturbing visitors for personal gain. Wearing Thai traditional costumes while visiting temples has become increasingly popular among both Thai and foreign tourists. Wat Arun is one of the most favoured locations for photo sessions, thanks to its iconic prang tower…

  • Thailand NewsThai activist urges probe into coup defence and adultery of minister nominee | Thaiger

    Thai activist urges probe into coup defence and adultery of minister nominee

    A Thai political activist accused a member of the People’s Party of defending a military coup and committing adultery, calling on the party to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. As part of its General Election campaign, the People’s Party recently launched a series of interviews titled The Professionals across its social media platforms. The series aims to present the…

  • World NewsNew ‘Republic of Kawthoolei’ announced at Thai-Myanmar border | Thaiger

    New ‘Republic of Kawthoolei’ announced at Thai-Myanmar border

    The son of a former leader of the Karen National Union (KNU) declared independence and announced the establishment of the Republic of Kawthoolei, a self-proclaimed state located along the Thai–Myanmar border. Nerdah Mya, the son of former KNU leader Bo Mya, introduced himself as the first president of the Republic of Kawthoolei, meaning “the land without darkness” in Karen, on…

  • Chiang Mai NewsOpinions divided after foreigners sunbathe in bikinis near Chiang Mai temple | Thaiger

    Opinions divided after foreigners sunbathe in bikinis near Chiang Mai temple

    Opinions among Thai netizens were divided after images of four foreign women in bikinis sunbathing near a temple in Chiang Mai province circulated widely on social media. The Facebook page แฉเชียงใหม่ V2 shared the photos on Monday, January 5. The images showed four foreign women wearing bikinis and sitting on the grass beside the city moat in central Chiang Mai.…

  • Crime NewsRayong man forces wife into sex with his father and pimps her out | Thaiger

    Rayong man forces wife into sex with his father and pimps her out

    A 20 year old Thai woman sought help from local journalists in Rayong province after her husband forced her to have sex with his father, sold explicit videos of her online, and pimped her out for money. The victim contacted the local news Facebook page ZOOM Rayong to seek assistance. The outlet later arranged to meet her discreetly, listened to…

  • Chiang Mai NewsFamily of five, including twin girls, killed in Chiang Mai house fire | Thaiger

    Family of five, including twin girls, killed in Chiang Mai house fire

    A family of five died in a house fire that broke out around midnight today, January 8, in Chiang Mai province. Local authorities believe an electrical short circuit may have caused the blaze. Firefighters and rescuers from several foundations rushed to a two-storey house in Soi Ruean Kham 17, Pa Dad sub-district, after receiving a fire report shortly after midnight. The…

  • Bangkok NewsThai man escapes punishment for child sex abuse with suicide | Thaiger

    Thai man escapes punishment for child sex abuse with suicide

    A Thai man committed suicide at a rented room in Bangkok to escape a legal punishment for the sexual assault of a 17 year old girl. The teenage victim, identified only as Phae, shared with the Facebook page Jmoi V+ that she was sexually assaulted by her friend’s uncle, named Boy, on December 27 last year. The incident took place…

  • Thailand NewsThai soldier killed in knife attack by ex-police after border duty | Thaiger

    Thai soldier killed in knife attack by ex-police after border duty

    A former Thai police officer fatally stabbed a soldier while the victim was resting at his home in Khon Kaen province after returning from duty at the Thai-Cambodian border. The fatal stabbing occurred at around 9.30am on Monday, January 6, at a house in Ubonrat district. The victim was 51 year old Sergeant Major First Class Sangkhom Tonlo, while the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taxi drivers threaten strike over illegal app-based drivers | Thaiger

    Phuket taxi drivers threaten strike over illegal app-based drivers

    Taxi drivers in Phuket threatened to stage a strike on January 15, demanding government action against illegal taxi drivers who operate without official registration, especially ones on ride-hailing applications. The local news Facebook page Phuket Andaman News reported today, January 7, that a group of taxi drivers in the province is planning to protest and has asked the media to…

  • Bangkok NewsPolice TikTok video sparks laughter as woman blames ‘Colonel Sanders’ for attack | Thaiger

    Police TikTok video sparks laughter as woman blames ‘Colonel Sanders’ for attack

    Bangkok police have gone viral after sharing a video of a Thai woman filing a bizarre complaint against “Colonel Sanders” and a homeless man, accusing them of attempting to physically assault her. The clip was shared by a police officer from Bang Khen Police Station on his TikTok account, @tonkhow_copnurse, on Monday, January 5. In the video, the woman is…

  • Thailand NewsSwedish groom-to-be dies after crashing motorcycle in Rayong | Thaiger

    Swedish groom-to-be dies after crashing motorcycle in Rayong

    A Swedish man lost his life after riding his motorcycle while drunk and crashing into a traffic guardrail on a road in Rayong province yesterday, January 6. He was reportedly planning to hold a wedding ceremony with his Thai girlfriend in the near future. Officers from Klaeng Police Station investigated the accident at around 5pm. The crash occurred at a…

  • Phuket NewsFire damages at least 10 speedboats at Chalong Bay in Phuket | Thaiger

    Fire damages at least 10 speedboats at Chalong Bay in Phuket

    A fire broke out in the early hours of today, January 7, damaging at least 10 speedboats docked at Chalong Bay in Phuket province. Officers from Chalong Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 4am and coordinated with firefighters to investigate and control the blaze. Upon arrival, police reported that flames and thick smoke covered the bay and…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok unveils model for first pedestrian bridge across Chao Phraya River | Thaiger

    Bangkok unveils model for first pedestrian bridge across Chao Phraya River

    Bangkok revealed plans for a new landmark, the city’s first pedestrian bridge across the Chao Phraya River, aimed at improving connectivity between both sides of the river and creating a new check-in spot for tourists. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) recently unveiled a model of the proposed bridge to the public. The design features a modern structure formed from an intricate lattice…

  • Thailand NewsThai man flees after sexually assaulting boy in Ayutthaya school | Thaiger

    Thai man flees after sexually assaulting boy in Ayutthaya school

    A Thai mother issued a public warning and urged police to swiftly arrest a suspect after her nine year old son narrowly escaped an attempted rape at a school in Ayutthaya province. The mother, 35 year old Thai woman Phatcharaporn, shared details of the sexual assault with Channel 7 on Sunday, January 4. The incident reportedly occurred at a school…

  • Bangkok NewsWat Arun photographers warned for exploiting public space for personal gain | Thaiger

    Wat Arun photographers warned for exploiting public space for personal gain

    Thai Tourist Police moved to regulate the activities of local photographers at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan in Bangkok following complaints that some photographers were exploiting the popular tourist attraction and public space for personal gain. The issue gained widespread attention after Krisda “Pond” Witthayakhajorndet, founder of the entertainment company Be On Cloud, shared his experience on X on January 2.…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket entertainment venue operators demand probe into alleged bribery | Thaiger

    Phuket entertainment venue operators demand probe into alleged bribery

    A group of entertainment venue operators in Phuket called for an investigation into government officials after rumours circulated online alleging that some officials sought bribes from business operators. The vice president of the Patong Beach Entertainment Venue Association, Apichet Phulsong, together with around 30 association members, met the Phuket governor to submit an official petition requesting an investigation into the…