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 NewsThai illegal worker in South Korea seeks help after losing fingers while working | Thaiger

    Thai illegal worker in South Korea seeks help after losing fingers while working

    A Thai illegal worker in South Korea sought help from a migrant support centre after losing two fingers in a workplace accident, but is still receiving no compensation. Farida “Aum” Ma, a volunteer who provides assistance to Thai workers in South Korea, shared the man’s case on Facebook yesterday, December 2, posting photos showing that his middle and ring fingers were…

  • Thailand News300 million baht budget for SEA Games pool triggers public debate | Thaiger

    300 million baht budget for SEA Games pool triggers public debate

    Public scrutiny is mounting over the 300-million-baht budget allocated for the swimming pool renovation ahead of the SEA Games 2025, after official procurement documents revealed the high prices of equipment installed at the venue. The Facebook page Young Shark Thailand (ฉลามหนุ่มไทยแลนด์) shared several posts breaking down the renovation costs of the SEA Games swimming pool and urged the public to…

  • Phuket NewsIndian tourist apologises for placing feet on seat of Trang-Phuket bus | Thaiger

    Indian tourist apologises for placing feet on seat of Trang-Phuket bus

    An Indian man issued an apology after a video of him placing his feet on the backrest of a Trang-Phuket coach bus seat went viral on Thai social media. The video was first shared yesterday, December 2, by Facebook user Y’Not Seven, and later reposted by several news pages. In the clip, the Indian man is seen travelling with a…

  • Thailand NewsThai man attempts suicide after setting girlfriend on fire at supermarket | Thaiger

    Thai man attempts suicide after setting girlfriend on fire at supermarket

    Police stopped a man from taking his own life after he set his girlfriend on fire outside a supermarket in Nakhon Sawan province on Monday, December 1. Witnesses rushed to extinguish the flames engulfing the 33 year old woman, Nicha, outside the store on Krai Lat Road in the Pak Nam Pho sub-district at around 5pm. She was taken to…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket villa scam leaves Thais and foreigners with over 100 million baht loss | Thaiger

    Phuket villa scam leaves Thais and foreigners with over 100 million baht loss

    Thai and foreign buyers lost more than 100 million baht to a Phuket property agent who duped them into purchasing luxury pool villas that were never completed. The victims claim their cases stalled because a well-known local politician is linked to the land involved. A group of victims travelled from Phuket to Nonthaburi on Monday, December 1, to seek help…

  • Thailand NewsThai actress and husband surrenders to police over fraud scandal | Thaiger

    Thai actress and husband surrenders to police over fraud scandal

    Thai actress Rybena “Nana” Intachai and her husband acknowledged two fraud-related charges after victims filed complaints with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) today, December 3. The scandal erupted last month when the Facebook page ท่านเปา hinted that a well-known actress whose name begins with N had deceived friends and acquaintances into investing in her businesses, which produced no returns. The…

  • Thai Law NewsThailand begins 180-day trial lifting afternoon alcohol sales ban | Thaiger

    Thailand begins 180-day trial lifting afternoon alcohol sales ban

    Thailand officially launched its trial to lift the long-standing afternoon alcohol sales ban today, December 3, allowing alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm for the first time in decades. The trial will run for 180 days while officials assess the impact before making a permanent decision. Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Sarum revealed that the National Alcohol Policy…

  • Thailand NewsThai transwoman files complaint over unfair wages at Trat karaoke bar | Thaiger

    Thai transwoman files complaint over unfair wages at Trat karaoke bar

    A Thai transwoman filed a complaint against the owner of a karaoke bar in Trat province, accusing her of unfair wage payment after receiving 100 baht per day instead of the agreed rate of 120 baht. Officers from Mueang Trat Police Station went to the karaoke bar near Sra See Siat Reservoir in Wang Krachae sub-district at around 12.10am today,…

  • Pattaya NewsAmerican man found dead in Pattaya with head covered and hands cuffed | Thaiger

    American man found dead in Pattaya with head covered and hands cuffed

    Police are investigating the mysterious death of an American man found with his head covered by a black rubbish bag and his hands cuffed behind his back in a Pattaya hotel room today, December 2. Najomtien Police Station officers, together with rescuers from the Sawang Rojana Sattahip Foundation and a medical team from Wat Yannasangwararam Hospital, were called to the…

  • Thailand News7 locations raided over unhygienic counterfeilt consumer goods | Thaiger

    7 locations raided over unhygienic counterfeilt consumer goods

    Police yesterday, December 1, raided a factory and several storage sites used to produce and distribute counterfeit consumer goods, seizing more than 240,000 illegal items and raw materials. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Economic Crime Suppression Division launched coordinated raids at seven locations in Lopburi, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani and Bangkok as part of a…

  • Phuket NewsForeigner accused of taking over Phuket viewpoint for paragliding business | Thaiger

    Foreigner accused of taking over Phuket viewpoint for paragliding business

    A foreigner and his Thai wife allegedly took over a public viewpoint in Phuket for their paragliding business and chased away Thai tourists who were visiting the popular attraction. A Thai tourist posted a video on social media exposing the pair, claiming the foreign man ordered him to leave the Windmill Viewpoint, located near Phromthep Cape. In the video, the…

  • Thailand NewsToilet truck crashes into motorcycle, leaving 2 students with broken legs | Thaiger

    Toilet truck crashes into motorcycle, leaving 2 students with broken legs

    A toilet truck crashed into a motorcycle at an intersection in Udon Thani yesterday, December 1, leaving two teenage students seriously injured. Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received a report of the accident at 10.50am and coordinated with rescuers from the Sawang Sema Dham Rescue Foundation. The crash occurred at the Udon Thani Teachers Savings Cooperative Intersection, where Mukka Montri…

  • Thailand NewsThai food blogger wins lottery after buying same number for 5 years | Thaiger

    Thai food blogger wins lottery after buying same number for 5 years

    A popular Thai food blogger finally struck luck after buying the same lottery number, 22, for more than five years. He did not disclose the exact prize amount, but his winnings were estimated to exceed 400,000 baht based on the number of tickets he purchased. The blogger, widely known as Plao Cooking, has over 15 million followers on Facebook and…

  • Thailand NewsLawyer association president shoots motorcyclist in Nonthaburi road dispute | Thaiger

    Lawyer association president shoots motorcyclist in Nonthaburi road dispute

    A lawyer association president shot a motorcyclist during a road-rage confrontation in Nonthaburi yesterday, December 1, claiming he acted out of anger after being insulted. Police and rescue workers from Ruam Katanyu Foundaton arrived at Bang Plu Intersection on Rattanathibet Road at around 9am, where they found 36 year old Bordin sitting beside his silver-bronze Honda CB500X with a gunshot…

  • Thailand NewsThai government denies 1,000-death rumour in southern floods | Thaiger

    Thai government denies 1,000-death rumour in southern floods

    The Ministry of Public Health updated the flood situation in southern Thailand yesterday, December 1, confirming that the official death toll has risen from 170 to 179 and dismissed rumours claiming fatalities surpassed 1,000. Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Sakda Alapach, addressed the conflicting numbers circulating online, particularly concerning Hat Yai district in Songkhla province, the area…

  • Thailand NewsForeign woman wanted for stealing snus from Krabi shop | Thaiger

    Foreign woman wanted for stealing snus from Krabi shop

    A foreign woman remains at large after stealing two boxes of snus from a shop at Holiday Beach Walk in the Ao Nang district of Krabi province on Saturday, November 29. Chutchalit Wongwatjanakil, the owner of the snus and kratom shop Term, posted in the Krabi Marketplace Facebook group seeking information about the suspect. He included CCTV images of the…

  • Bangkok NewsThai squatter accuses homeowner of stealing her identity to purchase his house | Thaiger

    Thai squatter accuses homeowner of stealing her identity to purchase his house

    A Thai woman allegedly occupied a man’s house for five months and later claimed ownership of the property, accusing the homeowner of stealing her mobile phone to complete the house purchase and other financial transactions. The victim, an animator who requested anonymity, shared videos of the incident on his Facebook page, Left Right, showing the moment he called police to…

  • Thailand News17 year old girl flees attempted rape by father’s friend in Rayong | Thaiger

    17 year old girl flees attempted rape by father’s friend in Rayong

    A 17 year old girl contacted news agencies, fearing the police would ignore her case, after her father’s friend attempted to rape her at a house in Rayong province. The victim contacted several news agencies yesterday, November 30, to share her story and urged the media to publicise the case. The precise date and time of the incident were not…

  • Thailand News16 year old schoolgirl blames depression for slashing classmate’s face | Thaiger

    16 year old schoolgirl blames depression for slashing classmate’s face

    A 16 year old schoolgirl slashed her classmate’s face with a Stanley knife in Loei province on Friday, November 28, allegedly blaming depression for the attack. The victim’s mother, 41 year old Kanoknipa, contacted the media to seek justice for her daughter, 16 year old Da. She said her daughter was a well-behaved student and a scholarship recipient, adding that…

  • Thailand NewsThai mother and 2 children die embracing in Samut Sakhon building fire | Thaiger

    Thai mother and 2 children die embracing in Samut Sakhon building fire

    A Thai mother and her two young children were found dead, embracing each other, after a fire tore through a four-storey building in Samut Sakhon yesterday, November 30. Krathum Baen Police Station received a report of the blaze at 12.50pm and quickly coordinated with firefighters from Om Noi City Municipality, Suan Luang Subdistrict Municipality, Tha Mai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and…

  • Thailand News6 Hat Yai men arrested for stealing beer from container train amid floods | Thaiger

    6 Hat Yai men arrested for stealing beer from container train amid floods

    Police yesterday, November 30, arrested six suspects for stealing beer from a container train at Hat Yai Train Station during the ongoing flood crisis in Songkhla. Officers are still searching for the ringleader and additional suspects. Videos showing several Thai men removing crates of beer from four railway containers and carrying them away went viral on Thai social media on…

  • Thailand NewsGovernment confirms 65 deaths in Songkhla floods amid conflicting reports | Thaiger

    Government confirms 65 deaths in Songkhla floods amid conflicting reports

    The Ministry of Public Health announced yesterday, November 30, that 170 people died in the severe flooding across southern Thailand, including 65 deaths in Songkhla province. The figure conflicts with reports from police and rescuers, who claimed that more than 100 bodies were found in Hat Yai district alone. According to the ministry, 170 deaths and 102 injuries were recorded…

  • Thailand NewsFrenchman arrested for stealing from luxury villa on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Frenchman arrested for stealing from luxury villa on Koh Samui

    Police arrested a Frenchman at a luxury villa on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province on Thursday, November 27, after he stole assets worth more than 240,000 baht from a Thai man. The Thai victim, whose name was not disclosed, filed a complaint with Bor Phut Police Station after discovering that several valuables had gone missing from his villa. Officers…

  • Phuket NewsForeign woman collapses on Bangla Road after consuming cannabis edible | Thaiger

    Foreign woman collapses on Bangla Road after consuming cannabis edible

    A foreign woman collapsed on Bangla Road in Phuket last night, November 27, allegedly after consuming a cannabis-infused snack. Her boyfriend allegedly refused assistance from rescue workers. A business operator on Bangla Road contacted the Patong Development Foundation after seeing the woman collapse and lose consciousness. Rescue officials arrived to find the woman lying on the ground while Thai and foreign bystanders…

  • Pattaya NewsSwedish arson suspect hides in Pattaya under fake German identity | Thaiger

    Swedish arson suspect hides in Pattaya under fake German identity

    Police arrested a Swedish man wanted on an Interpol Red Notice after he had been hiding in Pattaya for an extended period by posing as a German national. The Immigration Bureau Division 3 received information from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) about the fugitive, identified only as N. He was wanted in Sweden for a major arson attack in Sävsjö.…

  • Thailand NewsHeartbreaking video turns joyful as Thai man finds dogs left behind in floods | Thaiger

    Heartbreaking video turns joyful as Thai man finds dogs left behind in floods

    A Thai man reunited with his two pet dogs after a viral video showed him crying when he was forced to leave them behind during the severe floods in Hat Yai district, Songkhla. The video, widely shared across Thai social media, showed the man, believed to be between 65 and 70 years old, sobbing on a rescue boat. According to…

  • Thailand NewsDebate after Hat Yai flood victims seen taking items from flooded 7-Eleven | Thaiger

    Debate after Hat Yai flood victims seen taking items from flooded 7-Eleven

    Residents in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, were seen collecting items from a damaged 7-Eleven store following severe flooding, prompting discussion online over whether the act was acceptable given the circumstances. TikTok user, @naruponnut, yesterday, November 27, posted videos showing the interior of a flooded 7-Eleven with its front window shattered. People were observed placing snacks and drinks into bags…

  • Thailand NewsBody of 4 year old girl found after rescue boat accident in Hat Yai | Thaiger

    Body of 4 year old girl found after rescue boat accident in Hat Yai

    The body of a four year old girl was found yesterday, November 27, two days after she went missing in floodwaters following a rescue boat accident in Hat Yai district, Songkhla. The girl, Amidala “Padme” Arayawat, disappeared after falling from a rescue boat on Tuesday night, November 25, near Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai. Her family took to social media to…

  • Thailand NewsGovernment confirms 55 flood deaths; police found over 100 bodies | Thaiger

    Government confirms 55 flood deaths; police found over 100 bodies

    The Emergency Flood Crisis Operation Centre reported yesterday, November 27, that the death toll from the severe flooding in Songkhla province has risen to 55. However, updates from the Royal Thai Police (RTP) and several rescue teams suggest the number of bodies found may exceed 100. The centre’s spokesperson, Siripong Angkasakulkiat, offered condolences to all affected families and provided a…

  • Thailand News5 Vietnamese nationals arrested after hidden heroin parcels uncovered | Thaiger

    5 Vietnamese nationals arrested after hidden heroin parcels uncovered

    Officers from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) joined forces to dismantle a drug trafficking network operating in Thailand, leading to the arrest of five Vietnamese suspects involved in sending heroin to Australia. AITF officers inspected outbound parcels destined for Australia at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Free Zone when they detected irregularities…