Petch Petpailin

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.
  • Covid-19 NewsBangkok to open 500 more field hospitals after Covid-19 spike

    Bangkok to open 500 more field hospitals after Covid-19 spike

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said more field hospitals and isolation centres would be reopened to curb the recent spike in Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 if it is necessary. The 56 year old told media today that the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 have increased recently since the relaxation of mask-wearing raising the number of Covid-19 infected patients in Bangkok.…

  • Northern Thailand NewsPolice keep open mind on Thai man found dead in water tank with cut throat

    Police keep open mind on Thai man found dead in water tank with cut throat

    Police reported they were keeping an open mind to whether a local man was murdered or committed suicide after a body with a cut throat was found floating in a water tank at a house in the Isaan province of Roi Et. The body of the dead man, believed to be 51 year old Chaiyut Pakakatet, was fished out of…

  • Central Thailand NewsFlash flood causes chaos near Bangkok

    Flash flood causes chaos near Bangkok

    Destructive flash floods hit Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok last night causing chaos and thousands of baht worth of damage throughout the community. Shocked locals said that water levels hit 50 centimetres, the highest in 30 years. The floods hit communities by the Chao Phraya River, and the Gulf of Thailand, in the central province of Samu Prakarn at about…

  • Northern Thailand News‘It’s God’s Will’ says Thai gunman after Chiang Rai mass shooting

    ‘It’s God’s Will’ says Thai gunman after Chiang Rai mass shooting

    A drug-crazed killer gunned down three locals, including a 4 year old girl, and injured two in a mass shooting in the Baan Pa Kia Community in the northern province of Chiang Rai yesterday. Several cats and dogs were also killed in the crossfire. The drunken gunman told the police, “It’s God’s will.” The murderer, reportedly called Anucha Jabo, high…

  • Chiang Mai NewsE-ganja highly popular with Chiang Mai teens & govt officials

    E-ganja highly popular with Chiang Mai teens & govt officials

    Vendors in the northern province of Chiang Mai have revealed that their best e-ganja customers are either wealthy teenagers or government officials. E-ganja, like an e-cigarette, is a portable electronic device that simulates smoking. But unlike e-cigarettes, the e-ganja electronic device includes cannabis oil instead of tobacco. One of the positives of using an e-ganja electronic device is that it…

  • South Thailand NewsPolice search for 3 rogue cops & soldier involved in illegal gun trade

    Police search for 3 rogue cops & soldier involved in illegal gun trade

    Arrest warrants have been issued for three rogue cops and a soldier for selling illegal firearms to the criminal underworld in the southern province of Phattalung. The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, reported a huge police investigation is still ongoing to determine the sources of firearms used by the different offenders. In the first…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMother & daughter rescued from drowning at Khon Kaen Airport

    Mother & daughter rescued from drowning at Khon Kaen Airport

    A mother and daughter were rescued after accidentally driving a car into a flooded underground car park at Khon Kaen Airport in Isaan province of Thailand. A Facebook page, พระจันทร์ ลายกระต่าย V2 (The Rabbit on the Moon V2) posted pictures of a white sedan dripping in water with the caption, “Khon Kaen Airport.” The page didn’t explain the details of…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE: Mother who pimped out 9 year old daughter jailed alongside 2 pedophiles

    UPDATE: Mother who pimped out 9 year old daughter jailed alongside 2 pedophiles

    UPDATE The Criminal Court of Thailand yesterday jailed a mother of two, who pimped out her 9 year old daughter into prostitution, and two pedophiles. Under Thai indecency law, an offence to a child not yet over 15 years of age, shall be punished with imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, and fined between 20,000 to 40,000 baht, or imprisonment…

  • Crime NewsPolice raid 14 scam call centres in Pattaya, resulting in one arrest

    Police raid 14 scam call centres in Pattaya, resulting in one arrest

    Cyber police and officers from Thai mobile phone operator AIS yesterday raided 14 rental accommodations used to operate call centre scams in Pattaya and made one arrest. Officers investigated 16 venues in total but only 14 were being used for criminal activity, in the Bang Lamueng district of Pattaya, where AIS detected a signal the call centre scam gang used…

  • Crime NewsMother arrested after forcing 9 year old daughter into prostitution

    Mother arrested after forcing 9 year old daughter into prostitution

    A mother was arrested yesterday for forcing her 9 year old daughter into prostitution. The 26 year old woman, Chantra, was arrested after she posted sexy pictures of herself on Facebook, adding she had a child sex video and underage sex photos for sale. The post soon went viral on social media resulting in members of the public contacting police.…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok chief has dig at city works for 13 year delay to new tunnel

    Bangkok chief has dig at city works for 13 year delay to new tunnel

    The Director of Bangkok Public Works Department has promised Chadchart Sittipunt that the new Fai Chai Tunnel will be open for use on August 1 after the city chief had a dig at him over the project dragging on for 13 years. The director, Taiwut Khankaew, guaranteed the tunnel would be ready in time, reporting the project was 90% complete.…

  • World NewsThai stuntman kidnapped in drug smuggling ring in Myanmar

    Thai stuntman kidnapped in drug smuggling ring in Myanmar

    The mother of a famous Thai stuntman coach has appealed to the police to bring her kidnapped son home from Myanmar after he got caught up in a drug smuggling ring. Thai stuntman trainer, Ramai “Dan” Moripunt, is locked up in a Burmese prison after being accused of drug trafficking with two Thai friends. The 40 year old travelled from…

  • Central Thailand NewsThai schoolboy hit by bus on crossing in critical condition

    Thai schoolboy hit by bus on crossing in critical condition

    A schoolboy is in critical condition after being hit by a public bus on Wednesday morning while attempting to walk over a zebra crossing in front of Rattanatibet school in Nontha Buri, in central Thailand. The 13 year old Grade 9 student named Thanandon hit his head on the road and his body slipped under the red and cream No.…

  • Crime NewsCorrupt Thai tourist cop and friend caught in police sting

    Corrupt Thai tourist cop and friend caught in police sting

    A corrupt Thai tourist cop and his friend were arrested last night in a police sting after they swindled thousands of false operating taxes from entertainment venues in the central province of Nontha Buri. Officers from the Department of Provincial Administration Special Wisdom and Tactics, and Bang Yai Police Station, were alerted to the scam after receiving complaints from several…

  • Crime NewsGun-toting Thai YouTuber arrested for attempted murder after 5 years on the run

    Gun-toting Thai YouTuber arrested for attempted murder after 5 years on the run

    A famous YouTuber was finally arrested at his home in Nontha Buri province in central Thailand yesterday for attempted murder after 5 years on the run. Worrachate “Taek” Jantaphan was charged with attempted murder in 2017 after he used a gun to shoot at a truck, injuring its driver, because it was parked in front of his resort accommodation. The 63…

  • Northern Thailand NewsThai man appeals to robbers to stop as he has nothing left

    Thai man appeals to robbers to stop as he has nothing left

    A Thai man today appealed to thieves to stop robbing him after declaring he has nothing left to steal. Niphon Muangkram’s home in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen has been robbed 6 times in 3 months with 40,000 baht of valuables taken. One of the ironies of all this is that his home is only 1 kilometre away from…

  • Thailand NewsSurvey shows over 80% want legal casino complex in Thailand

    Survey shows over 80% want legal casino complex in Thailand

    A survey released by the Casino Committee of Thailand has revealed overwhelming evidence that the Thai nation wants a legal casino and entertainment complex in the country. Almost 81% of 3,296 participants said they would welcome a legal casino and entertainment complex in Thailand. MP from the Pheu Thai Party, and Casino Committee of Thailand spokesperson, Jakkapon Tangsuttitham, yesterday revealed…

  • Thailand NewsThai MP and brother get 2 years jail for election fraud

    Thai MP and brother get 2 years jail for election fraud

    Former Democrat Party MP Theptai Seanpong and his younger brother, Manoch Seanpong, were sentenced to a prison term of 2 years and political disqualification for 10 years after being found guilty of election fraud during the provincial administrative organization election in 2013 in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The Seanpong family is well-known among residents of Nakhon Si…

  • Thailand NewsThai officer caught on camera riding carelessly won’t be fined

    Thai officer caught on camera riding carelessly won’t be fined

    A Thai police officer caught on camera riding a motorcycle as if he was drunk in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum, won’t be prosecuted. The Chaiyaphum News Hunter Facebook page, คนล่าข่าวชัยภูมิ, posted a video of the police with a caption saying, “Locals sent this to me. Is it too dangerous, boss? This happened on the Bypass Road Mueng Chaiyaphum at…

  • Thailand NewsThailand to receive new LAAB Covid vaccine by end of the month

    Thailand to receive new LAAB Covid vaccine by end of the month

    Thailand today signed an agreement to receive its first batch of Long-Acting Antibody doses at the end of this month. The Thai Deputy PM, and Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, signed an agreement with AstraZeneca Country President, James Teague, to receive 257,500 doses of LAAB for people who suffer from immunodeficiency, to reduce of risk of becoming gravely ill if infected…

  • Bangkok NewsUPDATE: High-profile officer not corrupt says Bangkok residents

    UPDATE: High-profile officer not corrupt says Bangkok residents

    Thirty community leaders from the Lat Krabang district met with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittupunt yesterday to demand justice for a high-profile district officer. The community leaders, led by a former Bangkok Metropolitan Council candidate, Ronnachai Sangkamitkun, visited Chadchart’s office at BMA City Hall near the Giant Swing, and asked him to provide more information about the city’s corruption investigation into…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai health authorities insist latest Covid-19 wave is controllable

    Thai health authorities insist latest Covid-19 wave is controllable

    The Thai Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health insists that the latest Covid-19 wave in Thailand will be “small and controllable”, and should be called a “mini wave” not a new wave. The Rural Doctor Society Facebook page shared an urgent and secret document about a new wave of Covid to the public on Monday. The…

  • Thailand NewsThai netizens go into meltdown over farmer using bathroom cleaner as fertilizer

    Thai netizens go into meltdown over farmer using bathroom cleaner as fertilizer

    Pictures of a Thai farmer using bathroom cleaner as a fertilizer in his rice fields have sent netizens into meltdown. Scientist, Parkpoom Dethhussadin, known as Mor Lap Panda, posted a screenshot of a Facebook post from an unidentified farmer spraying his crops with bathroom cleaner. The unidentified farmer captioned the post with, “It’s effective and cost-saving. I tried it with…

  • Thailand NewsThai teacher forced to withdraw from beauty pageant

    Thai teacher forced to withdraw from beauty pageant

    Kanokwan “Jubjang” Chusuk has had to abandon her dream of becoming a beauty queen after discovering female teachers are banned from taking part in beauty contests in Thailand. The 25 year old is a teacher at an elementary school, Choom Chon Wat Haad Pankrai School, in Chumporn, in the southern province of Thailand. She applied to take part in one…

  • Thailand NewsThai public health ministry warns medical workers of new Covid-19 wave in a secret document

    Thai public health ministry warns medical workers of new Covid-19 wave in a secret document

    The Permanent Secretary of the Thai Public Health Ministry, Kiattiphum Wongarajit, has launched an urgent report to warn the provincial public health officers of the “new wave” of Covid-19 in Thailand. The official Facebook page of the Rural Doctor Society reported on their “urgent and secret document” to the public yesterday. The page said… “The warning sign to get ready…

  • Thailand NewsThai energy chief suggests senators shed suits to save energy

    Thai energy chief suggests senators shed suits to save energy

    The Deputy PM and Energy Minister, Supattanapong Punmeechaow, has urged the nation’s senators to be energy-saving role models for Thailand. The 62 year old MP has suggested every senator should avoid wearing suits to reduce the use of air-conditioning in Parliament. During today’s senate meeting at the Parliament House senators, Sakon Satjayanit and Suradet Jirathiticharoen raised questions about solutions to…

  • Road deathsTeen killed and 2 year old in critical condition after motorcycle tragedy

    Teen killed and 2 year old in critical condition after motorcycle tragedy

    A teenage boy has died and a 2 year old child is in critical condition after an accident yesterday at a motorcycle racing charity event near Krapang Surin Public Park in the southern province of Trang. A motorcycle racer lost control and crashed into the watching crowd alongside the racing track causing 1 death and injuries to 7 people. Sixteen-year-old…

  • World NewsNo Thais were killed by Burmese bombs says army

    No Thais were killed by Burmese bombs says army

    There were conflicting reports yesterday of Thai residents being killed as a result of the bombs dropped on Karen village in Myanmar near the Prop Phra district in Tak province in northern Thailand. The media reported there were Thai casualties as a result of the bombing at the border on Friday but the Thai army denied this was the case.…

  • Bangkok NewsThai taxi drivers protest against extended GrabBike deadline

    Thai taxi drivers protest against extended GrabBike deadline

    Bangkok motorcycle Taxi riders and Taxi drivers today burned their orange safety vests in protest of the Transport Ministry’s decision to extend the licence of GrabBike riders for 2 more months. The company announced last week that every one of their Grab riders must register as a public transport operator and change their registration plates from white to yellow if…

  • Tourism NewsUnlicensed pool villa in Pattaya raided by police

    Unlicensed pool villa in Pattaya raided by police

    Residents living in View Point Village in Bang Lamueng district in Pattaya filed a complaint to the authorities after foreigners caused carnage at an unlicensed pool villa. The Assistant District Officer, Pornchai Sung-iad, investigated the View Point Village, where several houses operate as pool villas and found that a number of locals were concerned that more properties in the area…