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 teacher in US accused of sexual relations with 16 year old student

    Thai teacher in US accused of sexual relations with 16 year old student

    A Thai teacher at a high school in Seattle in the state of Washington was accused of having sex with his 16 year old student. He was arrested at the school on February 17 and released on bail the next day for US$100,000 or 3.5 million baht. The Seattle Times reported yesterday that a Thai man, 32 year old Pawares…

  • Thailand NewsThailand is home to the most motorcyclists in the world

    Thailand is home to the most motorcyclists in the world

    The Pew Research Centre reported that Thailand has the most motorcyclists in the world. Similarly, most victims of road accidents in the country are riding motorcycles. If you’ve ever visited Vietnam, you might have noticed the abundance of motorbikes on the road, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. It may lead you to believe that Vietnam has the highest number…

  • World NewsThailand to haggle for discounted SEA Games broadcasting rights

    Thailand to haggle for discounted SEA Games broadcasting rights

    Cambodia is the very first host country of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to charge membership countries a broadcasting rights fee, costing US$800,000, or about 28 million baht. Thailand plans to negotiate the cost before the games begin in May, citing that the fee is too expensive. The secretary-general of the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee and National Olympic…

  • Phuket NewsRussians own 40% of foreign-owned condos in Phuket

    Russians own 40% of foreign-owned condos in Phuket

    Thailand’s Real Estate Information Centre (REIC) reported that Russian citizens own nearly 40% of foreign-owned condominiums in Phuket, worth a collective 880 million baht (US$25). In Phuket, Russians have overtaken the Chinese as the No.1 condo buyer. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year, Thailand has become a refuge for Russian citizens, as reported by Al Jazeera. The…

  • Thailand NewsElectrical short circuit closes runway at Krabi Airport, Thailand

    Electrical short circuit closes runway at Krabi Airport, Thailand

    Thai and foreign passengers were left stranded at Krabi International Airport in southern Thailand yesterday evening after the runway was closed due to an electrical short circuit, causing disruption to several flights. Facebook page Krabi Provincial Public Relations Department announced at 8.30pm that the airport sent out a Notice to Airmen (NOTEM) announcing the temporary closure of the airport from…

  • Thailand NewsThai army punishes 5 soldiers and their commanders for gunfight in Bangkok

    Thai army punishes 5 soldiers and their commanders for gunfight in Bangkok

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) punished five non-commissioned officers and their commanders after residents living near the premises in Bangkok complained about a gunfight and loud party at night. Locals living near an army premise in the Chaeng Watthana district of Bangkok have recently released a video of soldiers engaging in violent behaviour. The caption said… “The gunfight on February…

  • Thailand NewsLoan shark claims debtor shot herself in the head at his house in Thailand

    Loan shark claims debtor shot herself in the head at his house in Thailand

    A loan shark in northern Thailand informed the police on Tuesday that a debtor – who is also his ex-girlfriend – committed suicide in front of him by shooting herself in the head due to financial stress. Her relatives are not convinced by the claim and insist that she never had a gun. At 8.30pm, 58 year old Somkiat rang…

  • Thailand NewsVideo of foreign children playing with dangerous tokay gecko shocks Thai netizens

    Video of foreign children playing with dangerous tokay gecko shocks Thai netizens

    Netizens in Thailand are baffled by a clip posted by a Thai TikToker of three foreign children playing with a tokay gecko, an aggressive lizard feared most by Thais. Tokay geckos are not venomous but are known for being aggressive, territorial and inflicting strong, nasty bites that draw blood and get infected easily. Once a tokay gecko bites, it locks…

  • Thailand NewsDriving instructor intentionally crashes into and kills Thai police officer (video)

    Driving instructor intentionally crashes into and kills Thai police officer (video)

    A driving instructor crashed his sedan into the motorbike of a highway police officer in Pathum Thani province in central Thailand yesterday, instantly killing him. The crash was captured clearly by the camera attached to the highway police officer’s helmet. After inspecting the footage, police believe the crash was intentional. At 4.30pm, the Highway Police received notification of an accident…

  • Thailand NewsElderly couple attacked by over 10,000 wild bees in northern Thailand

    Elderly couple attacked by over 10,000 wild bees in northern Thailand

    An elderly couple in the northern province of Tak suffered a terrifying attack by a swarm of over ten thousand wild bees. The couple, both around 70 years old, was sitting in front of their house near the Ping River in the Baan Tak district when the bees descended upon them without warning. The couple endured multiple stings all over…

  • Thailand NewsSuperintendent accused of running gambling website

    Superintendent accused of running gambling website

    A superintendent from the Provincial Police Region 2 has been accused of being the mastermind behind the gambling website saipay69 which has 16,000 gamblers registered and a turnover of over 50 million baht. The Police Cyber Taskforce conducted raids on three gambling website offices yesterday, two in the Bang Khun Thian and Phetcha Kasem neighbourhoods of Bangkok, and another in…

  • Thailand NewsThai tea ranked 7th in the world’s best non-alcohol drinks’ list

    Thai tea ranked 7th in the world’s best non-alcohol drinks’ list

    TasteAtlas ranked Thai tea in seventh place in the travel guide platform’s top 100 Best Rated Non-alcoholic Beverages in the World. TasteAtlas website is an online food atlas or food guide that provides information on traditional and authentic dishes from all over the world. Users can search for interesting dishes by region, country, or ingredient, and users can suggest dishes…

  • Thailand NewsMan accidently shot and killed cousin and injured 2 year old niece

    Man accidently shot and killed cousin and injured 2 year old niece

    In a tragic incident, a man accidentally shot his cousin and her two year old daughter, mistaking them for intruders. The shooting resulted in the death of the woman, while the child was critically injured and is currently receiving treatment in intensive care. The shooting incident occurred last night at 9.30pm in a longan plantation in the central province of…

  • Thailand NewsTubing in northern Thailand bustling with foreign tourists

    Tubing in northern Thailand bustling with foreign tourists

    A Thai TikToker recently shared a video of foreign tourists enjoying a tubing adventure along the Pai River in Mae Hong Son, a northern province of Thailand. Thai netizens were overwhelmed by the video, saying it was a sign the kingdom is well on the way to economic recovery and tourism is booming once more. @roritarkratair posted the video yesterday…

  • Thailand NewsMan swindled out of 5 million baht by a trusted friend

    Man swindled out of 5 million baht by a trusted friend

    A man filed a complaint with the local police department after being swindled out of 5 million baht by a friend. It was later revealed that this so-called friend of his had previously served a prison sentence for seven counts of theft and fraud. The 39 year old victim, Trirat “Bird” Liwsiri-anan, filed a complaint at Mueang Pattalung Police Station…

  • Thailand NewsGrab taxi driver accused of stealing 50,000 baht cash bouquet

    Grab taxi driver accused of stealing 50,000 baht cash bouquet

    A Grab taxi driver has been accused of stealing a valuable cash flower bouquet by a woman who hired him to deliver the gift to her boyfriend. The bouquet was reportedly worth 50,000 baht, a significant sum of money. The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, vehemently denies the allegations and insists that he delivered the bouquet to its…

  • Thailand NewsSouth Korean human trafficking leader arrested in Pattaya

    South Korean human trafficking leader arrested in Pattaya

    A leader in the human trafficking trade from South Korea was arrested yesterday at a luxury condominium in Pattaya. He was charged with operating an illicit massage parlour in Busan and luring Thai women into sex work. The South Korean criminal boss, identified as 50 year old Cho, was arrested at a luxury condominium on Pattaya Sai Sam Road yesterday…

  • Bangkok NewsMore than 30 manhole covers in Bangkok stolen

    More than 30 manhole covers in Bangkok stolen

    Police launched an investigation into the disappearance of more than 30 manhole covers in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok. Officers conducted raids on a number of scrap dealer shops in the capital to recover the stolen items to no avail. The Director of Thawi Watthana district, Dicha Kongsi, filed a complaint with Thammasara Police Station after receiving reports of…

  • Thailand NewsDead body of missing German man found in Chanthaburi canal

    Dead body of missing German man found in Chanthaburi canal

    The dead body of a German man, who went missing from Laem Sing Beach two days ago, was found in the Chanthaburi canal today. The Sawang Katanyu Rescue Team was notified today at 9am by local fishermen that they found the body of the missing German man, Sebastian, in the Chantaburi Canal near Don Pradu Temple in the Chanthaburi province. Rescuers…

  • Thailand NewsPolice officer beheaded after crashing sedan into traffic barrier

    Police officer beheaded after crashing sedan into traffic barrier

    An officer from the Chainart Provincial Police Office was beheaded last night after he crashed his sedan into a traffic barrier. The stationary barrier ripped into his car and took his head off. The dead police officer was reported to be 30 year old Naphatrapee Worawongwaylarath. He was killed by the 10-metre traffic barrier. His damaged black Honda Civic sedan…

  • Thailand NewsMan rejected by employer due to a police mistake

    Man rejected by employer due to a police mistake

    A 25 year old Thai man was rejected by an employer because a police officer in the Isaan province of Buriram mistakenly put his name on a criminal record sheet. Phichitchai Anansook filed a complaint with the Ministry of Justice, saying he was unemployed because of a mistake by Nong Song Hong Police Station. His name was listed as a…

  • Thailand NewsNational park officer becomes an alien to promote tourism in southern Thailand

    National park officer becomes an alien to promote tourism in southern Thailand

    A surge in the circulation of extra-terrestrial-related stories on social media in Thailand inspired a national park officer to photo-edit an application to transform herself into an alien. The aim of this transformation was to boost tourism at the Khao Sok National Park, located in the southern province of Surat Thani. The discussion surrounding the existence of UFOs and aliens…

  • Thailand NewsThailand-Myanmar land border in Chiang Rai reopens after 3-year closure

    Thailand-Myanmar land border in Chiang Rai reopens after 3-year closure

    The Thailand-Myanmar land border at the Maesai Border Checkpoint in the northern province of Chaing Rai reopened yesterday after being closed for three years due to Covid-19. Thais and foreigners who want to visit Myanmar need to show a vaccine certificate or Covid test. Maesai Border Checkpoint and Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge 1, which connect Chiang Rai province in Thailand with…

  • Thailand NewsGerman man disappears from beach in central province of Thailand

    German man disappears from beach in central province of Thailand

    A German man disappeared from Laem Sing Beach in the central province of Chanthaburi on Sunday after visiting the beach for sunbathing. Police believe he has drowned. Thaweesak, the owner of a local food shop at the beach, notified the police after Sebastian, who was approximately 30 years old, went missing. According to Thaweesak, the German man visited his shop…

  • Tourism News400 people fall victim to Japan tour scam resulting in 14 million baht loss

    400 people fall victim to Japan tour scam resulting in 14 million baht loss

    Representatives from 10 travel agencies filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau after being lured into buying 14 million baht worth of fake tour packages to Japan. Over 400 victims have been duped by the scam so far. Representatives for the group claimed to have purchased tour packages from a major company based in the central province of Pathum…

  • Thailand NewsTearaway teens arrested for robbing four motorists

    Tearaway teens arrested for robbing four motorists

    Three teenagers and a man were arrested for robbing four motorists at the weekend in Samut Prakarn province in Bangkok. The suspects reportedly admitted to committing the crime to obtain funds to buy kratom drinks. Footage captured by a car dashcam went viral on Thai social media. It showed the four thugs intimidating a motorcyclist into surrendering his valuables and…

  • Thailand NewsDisney launches special pop-up event at Asiatique The Riverfront

    Disney launches special pop-up event at Asiatique The Riverfront

    Walt Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a special event at Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok next month. Wanlapa Trisorut, the Managing Director of Asset World Corporation, announced a business expansion plan that involves investing over 800 million baht in Asiatique The Riverfront. The goal is to transform the open-air mall into Bangkok’s largest riverside retail destination, catering to…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket health spa slams travel agency for ripping off foreigners

    Phuket health spa slams travel agency for ripping off foreigners

    A Phuket health spa announced that it will no longer accept reservations from travel agencies after one agency ripped off its foreign customers. The decision was made after the agency in question overcharged foreign customers, causing them to file complaints about the high prices of the spa services. Phumontra Cafe & Massage is one of the most popular spa spots in Phuket…

  • Thailand NewsHeroic doctor and nurse save panic attack passenger on Japan-Thailand flight

    Heroic doctor and nurse save panic attack passenger on Japan-Thailand flight

    A quick-thinking doctor and nurse became heroes on a Japan to Thailand flight after they promptly administered aid to an anxious passenger suffering from a panic attack. Thai singer and actor Siwat “Tah” Sirichai shared the heartwarming story of two medical workers who went above and beyond the call of duty to save a passenger suffering from a panic attack…

  • Thailand NewsReckless Bangkok GrabBike rider kills motorcycle taxi man, flees scene

    Reckless Bangkok GrabBike rider kills motorcycle taxi man, flees scene

    A reckless GrabBike rider crashed his vehicle into a motorcycle taxi rider and killed him on the Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. The suspect fled the scene leaving his drunk, injured passenger with the dead body. Motorists on Ratchadapisek Road reported the accident to the Sutthisarn Police Station at about 5.30am today. Police officers…