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.
  • 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…

  • Thailand NewsThai healthcare staff demand reduction to 100 hour working week

    Thai healthcare staff demand reduction to 100 hour working week

    Thailand’s overworked healthcare professionals have petitioned the leader of the opposition party to help them get better working conditions after it was revealed most of them work about 100 hours a week. The Thai Frontline Physician Confederation yesterday handed a letter to the leader of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, outlining their demands. Chutinart Chinudomporn, a female Thai doctor…

  • World NewsRoyal Thai Air Force sends F-16 fighter jets to check air incursion by Burmese military planes

    Royal Thai Air Force sends F-16 fighter jets to check air incursion by Burmese military planes

    The Royal Thai Air Force sent 2 F-16 fighter jets to inspect Thai airspace after a MiG 29 fighter jet from Myanmar was detected flying over the Prop Phra district in Tak, the northern province of Thailand. Yesterday, the Royal Thai Airforce reported that an unidentified aircraft was spotted in Thai territorial air space at 11.16am. The plane was later…

  • Bangkok NewsPolice close joints on Khao San Road for selling cannabis without a licence

    Police close joints on Khao San Road for selling cannabis without a licence

    Police have closed all shops selling cannabis on Khao San Road in Bangkok for operating without a license on a public road. The police told the businesses that selling cannabis wasn’t wrong, but it is illegal without permission to do so. Since cannabis was decriminalised on June 9 and removed from the Public Health Ministry’s narcotics category, cannabis shops have…

  • Thailand NewsPayPal Thailand back this year for those with Thai ID Cards

    PayPal Thailand back this year for those with Thai ID Cards

    PayPal announced its service will be up and operational in Thailand this year under its registered company name PayPal Thailand. To use the service, current users would be required to verify their identities via the Thai National Digital ID platform, and this process requires a Thai national ID card. Obviously this is a problem for foreigners. PayPal made some changes…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok open-air film festival is free to moviegoers next month

    Bangkok open-air film festival is free to moviegoers next month

    Bangkok’s open-air film festival, Krung Thep Klang Plang, which means Bangkok open-air theatres, rolls out the red carpet for the whole month of July. The open-air theaters will be held at a number of different locations throughout the city, and the first event kicks off on July 7 at Laan Kon Mueng space in front of the Bangkok City Hall,…

  • Central Thailand NewsLocals urge officials to fix roads and halt pricey street lamp project

    Locals urge officials to fix roads and halt pricey street lamp project

    Locals from Nakhon Thong Village in the Racha Thewa district of Samut Prakarn, the central province of Thailand, have made an impassioned appeal to the media to highlight the provincial government’s neglect of their roads in favour of pretty street lamps. Samut Prakarn provincial officers continue to ignore residents’ calls to improve the district’s dangerous roads and thoroughfares. The road…

  • Thailand News400 new drinking fountains to be restored to Bangkok streets

    400 new drinking fountains to be restored to Bangkok streets

    Four hundred new pedestal drinking fountains will be reinstalled on Bangkok’s pavements. In December last year, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration assigned the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority to demolish 400 public drinking fountains from the city’s paths, that were first introduced in 1999, because they were old, creaky, and lacked maintenance. Metropolitan pedestrians complained to the authorities that they were unable to use…

  • Visa InformationMore than 100 foreigners in Phuket swindled by visa agency

    More than 100 foreigners in Phuket swindled by visa agency

    More than 100 foreigners in Phuket enlisted the help of a non-profit organization and a class action lawyer after they were swindled out of thousands of baht by visa agents. Asia Titan Group ATG, and Phuket Siam Corporation Service, are 2 of the visa agencies named by foreigners who were lured into handing over cash for a visa extension. The…