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 NewsBangkok Digital Loy Krathong Festival wins best eco-friendly festival | Thaiger

    Bangkok Digital Loy Krathong Festival wins best eco-friendly festival

    The 2023 Bangkok Digital Loy Krathong Festival at the Ong Ang Canal near Bangkok’s Chinatown scooped an Asia Pinnacle Award for the Best Eco-Friendly Festival category. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) official Facebook page yesterday, February 21, invited its followers to join in celebrating the latest award, Best Eco-Friendly Festival, from Asia’s Pinnacle Awards. The BMA added that the representative would attend…

  • Thailand NewsBare truth: Thai man’s crystal meth nap leads to roadside arrest | Thaiger

    Bare truth: Thai man’s crystal meth nap leads to roadside arrest

    Police arrested a Thai man this afternoon for lying naked on the roadside in the eastern province of Trat. The man confessed that the crystal meth he had taken made him feel sleepy and hot. Motorists in the Wang Krajae sub-district of Trat spotted the Thai man, later identified as 39 year old Amphon, lying naked on the side of…

  • Thailand NewsThai doctor crashes sedan into 3 cars in Lampang hospital car park | Thaiger

    Thai doctor crashes sedan into 3 cars in Lampang hospital car park

    A Thai doctor attributed a brake system failure as the cause of his sedan crashing into three cars in a car park at Lampang Hospital in northern Thailand. Fortunately, rescuers managed to avert a potentially hazardous situation by preventing an SUV from plummeting off the sixth floor of the parking structure. The sound of the collision and the sight of…

  • Thailand NewsThai abbot loses amulets worth over 50 million baht to scammers | Thaiger

    Thai abbot loses amulets worth over 50 million baht to scammers

    A Thai abbot at Pak Khlong Temple in the western province of Phetchaburi lost valuable amulets worth 50 million baht to two scammers. The 84 year old abbot, Sophiwacharachote, filed a theft report at Ban Laem Police Station on February 19 after two Thai men stole 15 Buddhist amulets, 2,500 baht in cash, and important documents from him. The stolen…

  • Thailand NewsThai drug addict crashes pickup, killing 2 students, injuring 13 | Thaiger

    Thai drug addict crashes pickup, killing 2 students, injuring 13

    A Thai man addicted to drugs crashed his pickup into a roadside pavilion in the Sadao district in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to 13 other pupils. Officers from Sadao Police Station were alerted to the fatal car accident at about 11am yesterday, February 21. The accident took place when…

  • Thailand NewsThai Cabinet rejects gender recognition bill, citing crime concerns | Thaiger

    Thai Cabinet rejects gender recognition bill, citing crime concerns

    The Thai Cabinet yesterday rejected the proposed Act on Gender Recognition, Title, and Protection of Gender Diversity, citing concerns about false identities if people are allowed to use preferred titles. The titles of people in the LGBTQA+ community have been trending on Thai social media since a transgender model, Phacharanat “Mimi” Nobantao, questioned why Thai citizens were unable to choose their…

  • Thailand NewsBig Joke faces 2 charges over financial links to gambling operators | Thaiger

    Big Joke faces 2 charges over financial links to gambling operators

    The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, faces two charges after financial transactions of his were found linked with the online gambling operators. Four other senior police officers were found involved but their identities had not yet been revealed. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers raided Big Joke’s home in September last year…

  • Thailand NewsDutchman found dead with 2 holes in neck in Pattaya condo | Thaiger

    Dutchman found dead with 2 holes in neck in Pattaya condo

    Police are investigating the cause of death and the weapon that left two holes in the neck of a 72 year old Dutchman in a Pattaya condominium. A luxury condominium security guard, on Thap Praya Road in the Bang Lamung district, asked officers from the Mueang Pattaya Police Station to investigate room number 408 on the fourth floor of the…

  • Thailand NewsControversy erupts as Thai doctors clash over mRNA vaccine effect | Thaiger

    Controversy erupts as Thai doctors clash over mRNA vaccine effect

    Thai doctor Thiravat Hemachudha sparked controversy when he shared information about the potentially fatal effect of the messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) Covid-19 vaccine, citing English YouTuber John Campbell. Thiravat shared information from the English YouTuber, and retired nurse educator, Campbell, on Facebook on February 19. Thiravat talked about a white clot that was found in people and dead bodies with…

  • Thailand NewsCambodia’s ex-PM Hun Sen visits Thaksin at home in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Cambodia’s ex-PM Hun Sen visits Thaksin at home in Bangkok

    The former Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen, arrived at Chan Song La in Bangkok at 10.50am today to meet his friend, the former PM of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra. The 74 year old former PM had been at his Chan Song La residence for the fourth consecutive day since his release on parole on February 18. Several Thai politicians…

  • Thailand NewsMalaysian arrested for rape, theft of 1.2 million baht from Thai ex-wife | Thaiger

    Malaysian arrested for rape, theft of 1.2 million baht from Thai ex-wife

    Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police arrested a Malaysian man at his Bangkok condominium for raping his Thai ex-wife, stealing 1.2 million baht from her, and stabbing her dog at a house in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat last year. The 53 year old Malaysian man, Lee Woon Earnx, was subject to an arrest warrant following his break-in at…

  • Thailand NewsThai man admits attempted rape of Chinese woman | Thaiger

    Thai man admits attempted rape of Chinese woman

    Police arrested a Thai man for attempting to rape and murder a Chinese woman in Pattaya. The suspect confessed to the attempted rape charge but denied setting her on fire to kill her. The 29 year old Chinese victim, Meilin, filed a complaint at Nong Prue Police Station on February 18 that a Thai motorcycle rider offered her a ride…

  • Thailand NewsThai soldier caught selling explicit videos of ex-girlfriend online | Thaiger

    Thai soldier caught selling explicit videos of ex-girlfriend online

    A Thai woman sought help from non-profit organization Be One after police did not file charges against a soldier who sold explicit videos of her online. The 19 year old victim, identified only as A, told the Be One organisation that her ex-boyfriend, Sergeant Apisit, secretly recorded videos during sexual activities and sold them online. She broke up with him…

  • Thailand NewsDrama erupts over transgender actress’ privilege to use gender-neutral title | Thaiger

    Drama erupts over transgender actress’ privilege to use gender-neutral title

    A drama erupted over the privileges of Thai celebrities after a renowned transgender actress was allowed to use a gender-neutral title on her bank account while others were not afforded the same privilege. Miss Tiffany Universe 2007, Thunyarat “Film” Chipraphachin, shared a receipt from Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) of Treechada “Poyd” Hongyok, transferring money to her via Facebook and thanked…

  • Thailand NewsThai man loses 10,000 baht after sex with woman met on roadside | Thaiger

    Thai man loses 10,000 baht after sex with woman met on roadside

    A Thai man accused a woman he met on the roadside of stealing 10,000 baht in cash from him after they had sex. The woman insisted the money was her hard-earned cash. Several motorists on the Friendship Highway in the Isaan province of Udon Thani filed a complaint with Nonsung Police Station stating that they witnessed a Thai man chasing…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman disappears after argument with her husband | Thaiger

    Thai woman disappears after argument with her husband

    A Thai woman went missing after an argument with her husband in their car at 3am on Sunday. The husband claimed that his wife jumped out of the car and ran away from him, with the GPS indicating her last known location in Chachoengsao province. A friend of the missing 27 year old Thai woman, Chonlada Muthurong, took to social…

  • Thailand NewsThaksin denies lese majeste law violation, secures 500,000 baht bail | Thaiger

    Thaksin denies lese majeste law violation, secures 500,000 baht bail

    After being released on parole for only a day, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra turned himself into authorities again, yesterday, February 19, in connection with a lese majeste case. He successfully secured bail of 500,000 baht. The 74 year old former PM was released on parole after a six-month detention at Police General Hospital. On February 18, he returned…

  • Thailand NewsChinese woman escapes attempted rape and murder in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Chinese woman escapes attempted rape and murder in Pattaya

    A Chinese woman is seeking justice after she managed to escape from a Thai man who tried to rape and kill her near a roadside forest beside Siam Country Club in Pattaya. Police are currently searching for the suspect. The Chinese victim, 29 year old Meilin, and her younger brother, 19 year old Chen, called officers from the Nong Prue…

  • Thailand NewsLove triangle turmoil: Thai woman attempts suicide over romantic attention from 2 men | Thaiger

    Love triangle turmoil: Thai woman attempts suicide over romantic attention from 2 men

    A Thai woman tried to commit suicide by running into a crowded road in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok because she could not choose between two men who fell in love with her. The three eventually agreed to be in a relationship together. Officers at Rattahathibet Police Station were alerted to a car accident on the Rattanathibet Road at 11.30pm on February…

  • Thailand NewsTeenage Thai girl accuses tattoo artist of sexual assault | Thaiger

    Teenage Thai girl accuses tattoo artist of sexual assault

    A 16 year old Thai girl filed a complaint against a male tattoo artist in Chon Buri province, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her during a tattoo session. The girl reported the sexual assault to Saensuk Police Station in Chon Buri province and also urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to share the story with the public. The…

  • Thailand NewsThai mum’s plea for aid after daughter’s car crash in Taiwan | Thaiger

    Thai mum’s plea for aid after daughter’s car crash in Taiwan

    A Thai mother is seeking help from the Government of Thailand after her daughter was seriously injured in a car accident in Taiwan. She has received no assistance from the Taiwanese authorities or the driver’s family. The mother contacted the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, saying her daughter was in hospital in Taiwan following a car accident on February 7, but she cannot…

  • Thailand NewsThailand teenager’s tragic stabbing leads to police pursuit | Thaiger

    Thailand teenager’s tragic stabbing leads to police pursuit

    Police arrested a Thai man for fatally stabbing a 16 year old boy in the central province of Suphan Buri. Another suspect is still at large. Officers at U Thong Police Station in the U Thong district of Suphan Buri received a report of the stabbing on the evening of Saturday, February 17. Officers rushed to the scene and discovered…

  • Thailand NewsMysterious burned human skeletons found in Isaan landfill | Thaiger

    Mysterious burned human skeletons found in Isaan landfill

    A Thai man discovered a burned human skeleton in a landfill in the Waeng Noi district of the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The identity of the deceased and the cause of death are currently under investigation. The man, a water delivery driver, stopped at the landfill yesterday, February 18, to urinate and came across the skeletons. He then reported…

  • Thailand NewsThaksin sparks online debates for being released on parole | Thaiger

    Thaksin sparks online debates for being released on parole

    Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, was released on parole following six months in hospital. He returned to his home, Ban Chan Song La, in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok yesterday, February 18. His parole sparked an online debate regarding his privilege and issues of inequality. Thaksin arrived in Thailand on August 22 last year after 15 years…

  • Thailand NewsSpirited debate: Health ministry’s alcohol curfew talks hit a hiccup | Thaiger

    Spirited debate: Health ministry’s alcohol curfew talks hit a hiccup

    The Ministry of Public Health held a meeting today, February 15, to deliberate on the potential abolition of the time restriction for alcohol sales, currently set between 11am and 2pm. However, the meeting failed to reach a clear conclusion. The Public Health Minister, Chonlnan Srikaew, reported that the proposal to cancel the time limit for alcohol sales was submitted to…

  • Thailand NewsThai boy assaulted by jealous teenagers for being ‘too handsome’ | Thaiger

    Thai boy assaulted by jealous teenagers for being ‘too handsome’

    A 15 year old Thai boy suffered serious injuries after a group of teenagers beat him up for being “too handsome” in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. Residents in the Ban Nong Kanon Simma in the Ban Dung district of Udon Thani urged the police to take action on the group of teenagers, aged between 12 and 16, responsible…

  • Thailand NewsFamily drama: Thai thief begs to be jailed to escape cruel life | Thaiger

    Family drama: Thai thief begs to be jailed to escape cruel life

    A Thai man, arrested for theft in the central province of Chachoengsao, pleaded with police officers to jail him so he could escape the cruel realities of the world and issues within his family. He expressed that his family rejected him, and believes his incarceration would be a gift for them. Officers from Bang Pakong Police Station responded to the…

  • Thailand NewsDisabled Thai woman busted in Valentine’s Day Yaba crackdown | Thaiger

    Disabled Thai woman busted in Valentine’s Day Yaba crackdown

    Authorities in the Isaan province of Roi Et arrested a 78 year old Thai woman with a disability and seized 151 tablets of methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, as part of the Expressing Love to Yaba Dealers crackdown on Valentine’s Day. Roi Et provincial administrative authorities together with police and soldiers launched the anti-narcotics operation on Valentine’s Day after receiving…

  • Thailand NewsThai cop allegedly rapes 19 year old woman he met on dating app | Thaiger

    Thai cop allegedly rapes 19 year old woman he met on dating app

    A Thai Marine Police Division officer allegedly raped a 19 year old woman he met on a dating application after he lured her to a welfare house in Chon Buri province. ThaiRath reported that a Thai TikToker shared a video about the sexual assault and warned women using dating apps to stay away from police officers. Reporters then spoke to…

  • Thailand NewsCameroonian men flee to Singapore after killing Burmese man | Thaiger

    Cameroonian men flee to Singapore after killing Burmese man

    Two Cameroonian men fled from Thailand to Singapore in the early hours of yesterday morning after killing a Burmese businessman and stealing 5 million baht in cash from a mansion in the Sukhumvit neighbourhood of Bangkok. The killers were originally believed to be Scottish. A Burmese woman, 58 year old The The Win, filed a complaint with the Lumpini Police…