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.
  • Bangkok NewsCommander takes no offence over PM’s private phone call

    Commander takes no offence over PM’s private phone call

    The Commander of the 2nd Army expressed his understanding after being mentioned in a private phone call between Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Cambodian President Hun Sen. PM Paetongtarn was accused of positioning herself against the Thai armed forces, particularly 2nd Army Commander Boonsin “Big Kung” Padklang, due to remarks made during her conversation with Hun Sen, yesterday, June…

  • Thailand NewsBhumjaithai Party exits from govt over PM phone call scandal

    Bhumjaithai Party exits from govt over PM phone call scandal

    The Bhumjaithai Party, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul,, announced its withdrawal from the governing coalition yesterday, June 18, in the wake of the leaked phone call scandal involving Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. PM Paetongtarn admitted that she had held a private phone conversation with former Cambodian PM Hun Sen. The call, a portion of which…

  • Thailand NewsThai boy dies of starvation, parents rushed to hospital in weak condition

    Thai boy dies of starvation, parents rushed to hospital in weak condition

    A 14 year old Thai boy died of starvation at his family home in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after he and his parents reportedly lived without food for nearly a month. The Por Tek Tung Rescue Foundation was called to a house in the Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi at around 7am yesterday, June 18, to transport the lifeless body of…

  • Bangkok NewsThai woman suffers alleged electric shock at Bangkok mall’s ticket machine

    Thai woman suffers alleged electric shock at Bangkok mall’s ticket machine

    A Thai woman took to Facebook to share her experience of an unexpected electric shock from a car park ticket machine at a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Bang Na area. The victim shared on her Facebook post that the incident occurred on June 10. In her post, the woman wrote… “I was electrocuted by a car park ticket machine at…

  • Thailand NewsFish bone pierces Thai woman’s throat and emerges through her neck

    Fish bone pierces Thai woman’s throat and emerges through her neck

    A Thai man in the northern province of Phetchabun issued a warning to food lovers on social media after a sharp fish bone pierced through his wife’s throat. The man, Suriyan Buppa-art, shared pictures of his injured wife and the extracted fish bone on his Facebook account on June 17. He captioned the post… “Warning! She ate fish, and a…

  • Thailand NewsFrightened Thai man fires at police mistaking raid for threat

    Frightened Thai man fires at police mistaking raid for threat

    A Thai man repeatedly opened fire on a group of police officers during a raid of his neighbour’s home in the southern province of Trang, claiming he was frightened to see so many armed men near his home. Officers from the Drug Suppression and Investigation Divisions of Trang Provincial Police were preparing to raid a house on Na Mueang Phet–Sikao…

  • Pattaya News50 foreigners arrested at illegal entertainment complex in Pattaya

    50 foreigners arrested at illegal entertainment complex in Pattaya

    More than 50 police officers raided an illegal entertainment complex in Pattaya, arresting 50 foreigners involved in gambling, call centre scam operation, and prostitution. Officers from Chon Buri Immigration Bureau, Mueang Pattaya Police Station, and Pattaya Administrative Office gathered at 12.30am, yesterday, June 17, to raid the entertainment complex, which was operated in a luxury apartment block known as Holiday,…

  • Crime News13 foreign suspects arrested for operating call centre scam (video)

    13 foreign suspects arrested for operating call centre scam (video)

    Thai and Australian police officers joined forces to crack down on a call centre scam gang in Samut Prakan province, near Bangkok, arresting 13 suspects from Australia, the UK, Canada, and South Africa on Monday, June 16. Officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) sought cooperation from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau after more than 14,000 Australians fell victim to a…

  • Thailand NewsThai man wanted for murdering gay man and stealing gold

    Thai man wanted for murdering gay man and stealing gold

    A Thai man fled from Surin province to Mukdahan after allegedly murdering a gay man and stealing gold jewellery worth over 1 million baht on June 4. The victim, 63 year old Pratheep Kongthawee, was found dead at his home in Surin with a fatal stab wound to his neck and bruises on his hands and arms. His body was…

  • Thailand NewsThai man fatally shot at karaoke bar after scuffle over microphone

    Thai man fatally shot at karaoke bar after scuffle over microphone

    A former Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) member fatally shot a Thai man at a karaoke bar in the northern province of Phetchabun, allegedly following a scuffle over a microphone. Officers from Si Thep Police Station arrested the gunman, Sanan Promsook, at the karaoke venue in the Si Thep district of Phetchabun at around 11pm, Sunday, June 15. Sanan, a former…

  • Thailand NewsThai police find financial links between scam gangs and Cambodian elite

    Thai police find financial links between scam gangs and Cambodian elite

    Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers discovered that a company based in Cambodia has financial links to gambling websites and call centre scam gangs that targeted Thai citizens. The company is reportedly connected to the nephew of a Cambodian political leader. CCIB Commander Trirong Phewphan revealed at a press conference that many of the gambling websites and scam gangs previously…

  • Thailand NewsFalse gambling report: Thai police mistakenly raid board game party

    False gambling report: Thai police mistakenly raid board game party

    Bumbling police officers raided a house in the central province of Saraburi in an attempt to arrest gamblers, only to discover that the presumed suspects were merely playing a board game. One of the board game players shared CCTV footage of the incident on her TikTok account, @nnannthc, on Sunday, 15 June, with the caption: “Board game was the cause.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand joins list of safest countries for tourists by US

    Thailand joins list of safest countries for tourists by US

    The government urged residents to celebrate after Thailand was named one of the safest destinations for tourists by the United States Department of State. The Department of State categorises travel safety advisories into four levels: Level 1 – Exercise normal precautions, Level 2 – Exercise increased caution, Level 3 – Reconsider travel, and Level 4 – Do not travel. Countries…

  • Thailand NewsThai Airways exits rehabilitation plan after four years of operation

    Thai Airways exits rehabilitation plan after four years of operation

    Thai Airways (THAI) announced yesterday, June 16, that the Central Bankruptcy Court officially approved the end of its rehabilitation process. The airline now plans to seek permission to relist its shares on the stock exchange by August. THAI shared the news via its official Facebook page, stating, “The Central Bankruptcy Court has ordered the termination of business rehabilitation. THAI is…

  • Thailand NewsDrunk police officer kills woman in fatal crash in southern Thailand

    Drunk police officer kills woman in fatal crash in southern Thailand

    A drunk police officer is facing four charges after crashing his vehicle and killing a 62 year old woman in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Sunday, June 15. Officers from Thung Song Police Station were called to arrest the driver of a grey sedan, Police Senior Sergeant Major Wicharn, on Sai Serm Chart Road in the Thung…

  • Bangkok NewsGrill rage! Man battered in Bangkok barbecue restaurant blunder

    Grill rage! Man battered in Bangkok barbecue restaurant blunder

    An innocent Thai man is seeking justice after he was attacked by two suspects at a barbecue restaurant in Bangkok on Sunday, June 15, simply for asking his friend, “Why are there not many people today?” The victim’s mother sought help yesterday from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, explaining that her son was assaulted without provocation or reasonable cause. According to…

  • Thailand NewsThai actor slammed over pregnancy scandal and unprotected sex

    Thai actor slammed over pregnancy scandal and unprotected sex

    An entertainment agency terminated its contract with a Thai actor after he was accused of engaging in unprotected sex with multiple women and forcing a pregnant woman into having an abortion. He allegedly told the woman that he refused to use condoms because “it wastes plastic.” The allegations came to light after a user on X (formerly Twitter) publicly exposed…

  • Phuket NewsForeign man caught on viral video kissing Naga statue in Phuket

    Foreign man caught on viral video kissing Naga statue in Phuket

    A foreign man went viral on Thai social media after locals witnessed him making a wish and kissing a Naga statue in Phuket. Photos and videos of the incident were widely shared online. The Phuket Times Facebook page posted images and a video of the man today, June 16, with a caption reading, “Kissing a Naga statue. He’s so into…

  • Thailand NewsThai ice cream vendor arrested after shooting rival over selling spot

    Thai ice cream vendor arrested after shooting rival over selling spot

    Police arrested a Thai ice cream vendor for shooting a rival while she was riding her motorcycle in Prachin Buri province on Saturday, June 14. Officers from Kabin Buri Police Station reported that the victim, a 47 year old woman named Phattanarin, was shot near the Sam Thahan Intersection in Kabin Buri district at around 8.30pm. She sustained a gunshot…

  • Thailand NewsCheating couple caught by their spouses at Surin love hotel

    Cheating couple caught by their spouses at Surin love hotel

    A Thai man joined forces with the legal partner of his wife’s secret affair to catch their cheating partners red-handed at a love hotel in the Isaan province of Surin on Saturday, June 14. Officers from Mueang Surin Police Station were called to intervene in an altercation at a love hotel in the Khwao Sinarin district on Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival, they…

  • Thailand NewsThai man drowns while trying to save pet bird in Chiang Mai reservoir

    Thai man drowns while trying to save pet bird in Chiang Mai reservoir

    A Thai man drowned in the Nong Khiao Reservoir in the northern province of Chiang Mai yesterday, June 15, after attempting to save his pet bird from drowning. The bird reportedly died in the incident. Rescue workers from the Kuson Songkhro Chiang Mai Foundation, Phra Kru Odd Chedi Luang Temple Foundation, and Phetchakasem Foundation rushed to the reservoir in Chai…

  • Thailand NewsThailand and Cambodia make conflicting announcements after boundary meeting

    Thailand and Cambodia make conflicting announcements after boundary meeting

    Thailand and Cambodia made conflicting announcements following the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, yesterday, June 15. Tensions between the two nations flared on May 28 in the disputed border area known as Chon Bok in Thailand and the Emerald Triangle in Cambodia. Military forces from both sides briefly clashed, with the confrontation lasting around half…

  • Thailand NewsThai singer shares connection to Air India crash survivor

    Thai singer shares connection to Air India crash survivor

    A Thai singer, who survived a plane crash in Surat Thani in 1998, revealed that he once sat in the same seat number as the British survivor of the recent Air India crash. The singer, Ruangsak “James” Loychusak, took to his Facebook page, Jamesruangsak, to comment on the Air India crash near Ahmedabad, India, which occurred today, June 13. In…

  • Thailand NewsPresumed dead man found alive after week in mangrove mud

    Presumed dead man found alive after week in mangrove mud

    Rescuers assisted a Thai man who was trapped in mud in a mangrove forest in the southern province of Chumphon for seven days, after a local fisherman discovered him and initially mistook him for a corpse. The 53 year old fisherman, Sila Wongpaen, fled the mangrove in shock and filed a report at Ban Wisai Nue Police Station, stating that…

  • Thailand News2 fake police officers arrested for extorting Indian man of 5,000 baht

    2 fake police officers arrested for extorting Indian man of 5,000 baht

    Police arrested two Thai men who posed as officers and extorted an Indian national of 5,000 baht in the central province of Sing Buri on Monday, June 9. The victim, 53 year old Sanjay Siner, filed a complaint with Mueang Sing Buri Police Station on the same day, stating that two Thai men, claiming to be police officers, forced him into their…

  • Bangkok NewsBuddhist amulet saves Thai man from shooting in Bangkok restaurant

    Buddhist amulet saves Thai man from shooting in Bangkok restaurant

    A Thai businessman survived a shooting at a restaurant in Bangkok yesterday, June 12, after a Buddhist amulet he was wearing reportedly blocked a bullet from piercing his chest. Officers from Bang Khen Police Station responded to reports of gunfire at a restaurant on Phahonyothin Road in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. Upon arrival, they found a chaotic scene, with tables…

  • Thailand NewsPatient punches nurse in Nonthaburi hospital, cites disrespect

    Patient punches nurse in Nonthaburi hospital, cites disrespect

    Police immediately transferred a male patient from the hospital to a detention cell after he punched a nurse in the face on Wednesday, June 11, at Pranangklao Hospital in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. Excessive cannabis use is suspected to have played a role in the violent outburst. The assault occurred at around 2pm in front of the nurses’ counter on…

  • Bangkok NewsPolice chase and escape of Bangkok taxi rider end in injury of passenger

    Police chase and escape of Bangkok taxi rider end in injury of passenger

    A traffic police officer chased an app-based motorcycle taxi rider who ran a red light, causing the female passenger to fall and suffer a head injury. The incident sparked mixed reactions online. The Facebook page, อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 6, posted dashcam footage of the incident yesterday, June 12, stating the administrator’s opinions in the caption… “Both parties were at fault.…

  • Thailand News2 Thai boys assaulted by security guard over money hunt in rubbish area

    2 Thai boys assaulted by security guard over money hunt in rubbish area

    A Thai security guard physically assaulted two young boys at a condominium in the Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after the boys rummaged through a rubbish area in the hope of finding 12 million baht, inspired by a recent news story. The discovery of 12 million baht in cash inside a grey plastic box at a condominium…

  • Thailand NewsCCTV captures man sniffing men’s underwear outside Udon Thani dormitory

    CCTV captures man sniffing men’s underwear outside Udon Thani dormitory

    A CCTV camera outside a dormitory in the Isaan province of Udon Thani captured a Thai man sniffing men’s underwear before leaving on a motorcycle. The 38 year old Thai man, known as Ball, shared the CCTV footage in a Facebook group for residents in Udon Thani province to warn others and help identify the suspect. The video was posted…