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.
  • Northern Thailand NewsMan arrested in fake army uniform did it to get attention from girls | Thaiger

    Man arrested in fake army uniform did it to get attention from girls

    Police arrested a man for theft on Monday and discovered that he had a penchant for dressing up in fake Royal Thai Army (RTA) uniforms. He stated that he wore the soldier costume to draw female attention and had no intention of committing any crimes using the uniform. Officers from the Non Sung Police Station in the Isaan province of…

  • Thailand NewsRTP unveils strict checkpoint measures, officers must wear bodycam at all times | Thaiger

    RTP unveils strict checkpoint measures, officers must wear bodycam at all times

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has tightened checkpoint regulations in a bid to stamp out cop corruption amid the Taiwanese actress scandal. RTP officers have been ordered to be courteous and professional and to wear body cameras while working at checkpoints in the future. The Commissioner of the RTP, Damrongsak Kittipraphat, held an online conference with police officers across the…

  • Visa Information110 bent immigration cops busted in visa scam swoop | Thaiger

    110 bent immigration cops busted in visa scam swoop

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday revealed they uncovered a massive visa scam involving 110 bent immigration cops. The Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, held a press conference at the Police Club, where he exposed details of the illegal operation. The corrupt cops illegally offered visas to foreigners, especially Chinese investors. According to…

  • Thailand NewsOverworked Thai TV man found dead at work, no one noticed | Thaiger

    Overworked Thai TV man found dead at work, no one noticed

    A Thai News Network (TNN) worker died at his office desk at the weekend and no one noticed until the following day. The man’s colleagues reported that he died from overwork, suffered a heart attack, and passed away on duty. The dead man’s colleagues reported that he used to shout at the TNN management… “When will you hire more people?…

  • Thailand NewsIndian man attacked by 3 fellow nationals in Thailand over business dispute | Thaiger

    Indian man attacked by 3 fellow nationals in Thailand over business dispute

    An Indian man filed a complaint with the Thai police after he was attacked by three fellow Indian nationals in the central province of Prachin Buri after a business dispute. The 33 year old Indian man named Rantusa filed a complaint at Kabin Buri Police Station that he was attacked by three other Indian men in front of the laundry…

  • Thailand NewsRTA soldiers and Muay Thai champion unite to set new world record | Thaiger

    RTA soldiers and Muay Thai champion unite to set new world record

    Renowned Muay Thai fighter Sombat “Buakhao” Banchamek teamed up with 3,650 soldiers to break a Guinness world record by performing the traditional Thai dance, Wai Kru, at the Amazing Muaythai Festival 2023 on February 4 in Hua Hin. February 6 of every year is marked as Muay Thai Day to preserve and promote Thailand’s soft power Thai boxing. Commander of…

  • Phuket NewsForeigners, particularly Russians, accused of working illegally in Phuket | Thaiger

    Foreigners, particularly Russians, accused of working illegally in Phuket

    The Phuket Information Centre (ศูนย์ข้อมูลภูเก็ต) Facebook page accused foreigners, particularly Russians, of operating illegal businesses and working illegally in Phuket. Phuket Information Centre Facebook page shared with its followers last Sunday, February 5, that… “A lot of foreigners stay and work in Phuket, both legally and illegally. Recently, a group of foreigners started a car rental business. They offered both…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok road provides dangerous bed for sleepy motorcyclist | Thaiger

    Bangkok road provides dangerous bed for sleepy motorcyclist

    A Bangkok traffic cop posted a TikTok video of a man who dozed off on his motorcycle in the middle of a dangerous road. The officer emphasized that the man was not under the influence of alcohol, just very, very sleepy. The video on the cop’s TikTok account, Nui Seeaun, shows a man in an olive green coat slumped over…

  • Thailand NewsThai customs end intrusive frisking of designer-brand wearers at airports | Thaiger

    Thai customs end intrusive frisking of designer-brand wearers at airports

    The Thai Customs Department has officially put an end to the embarrassing and intrusive practice of frisking travellers passing through border control with designer-brand items at airports. The department said the searches were a burden for travellers. According to the deputy director of the Customs Department, Phanthong Loykunlanan, the department has abolished frisking tourists to make travel more convenient. However,…

  • Thailand NewsPattaya restaurant blamed for taking over public beach | Thaiger

    Pattaya restaurant blamed for taking over public beach

    A restaurant manager confessed to using public spaces at Na Jomtien Beach in Pattaya without permission to provide seating for their customers. Facebook page, PattayaWatchdog, posted a picture of nearly 30 tables on the beach, complete with decorative lamps to create an ideal romantic dinner setting. The caption said… “This is Na Jomtien Beach under the care of the Na…

  • Thailand NewsGLO under fire after refusing to pay jackpot winner 12 million baht | Thaiger

    GLO under fire after refusing to pay jackpot winner 12 million baht

    An out-of-work, heartbroken Thai Lottery jackpot winner who won 12 million baht couldn’t claim her prize from the Government Lottery Office (GLO) because she bought her tickets from an online lottery platform that the government shut down for overcharging customers. Phanthawat “North” Narkwisut, the CEO of Kong Salak Plus, was ordered to close his platform by the Department of Special…

  • Thailand NewsThai celebrities duped out of 20 million baht in online toy scam, 300 victims speak out | Thaiger

    Thai celebrities duped out of 20 million baht in online toy scam, 300 victims speak out

    Leading Thai celebrities were scammed out of over 20 million baht in a massive online toy scam, joining more than 300 other victims. Twenty representatives filed a complaint to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday. The group of 20 victims were led by 40 year old Phiphitpon Pookkanasood, a famous Thai singer from the band named Jetset’er. Phiphitpon revealed that…

  • Thailand NewsFamous TiKTok star arrested for dangerous hitchhiking | Thaiger

    Famous TiKTok star arrested for dangerous hitchhiking

    A famous TikTok star was arrested today after putting his life at risk dodging in and out of moving cars as he hitchhiked on the Ang Thong-Sing Buri Road in the central province of Ang Thong. Aun is a local celebrity due to his widely shared funny videos on social media but despite his fame, he has struggled with mental…

  • Thailand NewsWoman accuses police of seizing her car for personal use | Thaiger

    Woman accuses police of seizing her car for personal use

    A Thai woman accused officers from Sathon Police Station in the southern province of Songkhla of confiscating her car for personal use. The unnamed woman said her car was seized by the police two years ago despite not being involved in a crime. The woman reported that the police arrested her boyfriend in 2021 for possessing Kratom and two tablets…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s democracy index 2022 is the most improved in the world | Thaiger

    Thailand’s democracy index 2022 is the most improved in the world

    Don’t laugh but, Thailand’s democracy index in 2022 is the most improved in the world, so says the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). It has jumped 17 spots on the global scale, ranking 55th out of 167 countries, at a score of 6.67 out of 10. The EIU is a research and analysis organization that provides economic and political forecasts and…

  • Thailand NewsWoman reveals unnerving parking lot drama with MP at Parliament | Thaiger

    Woman reveals unnerving parking lot drama with MP at Parliament

    Anna Songserm, a TikToker from Thailand, recently shared on social media an unnerving experience she had while visiting the Parliament building in Bangkok. After a frantic search for a parking spot, Anna was directed to park her car in a lot that was closed off by a traffic barrier. Upon her return, she found that her car’s tyres had been…

  • Thailand NewsTaxi driver stabs passenger on road in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Taxi driver stabs passenger on road in Bangkok

    A passenger stabbed by a Bangkok taxi driver appealed to the Thai media to highlight his case after he accused the police of procrastinating over the case despite having enough evidence to arrest the accused. The victim succeeded in his quest and the taxi driver was arrested yesterday. The victim, Pratarn Seesook, contacted the crime news department of the MRG…

  • Thailand NewsCommuters criticise ‘dangerous’ Bangkok Apiwat Station’s lack of lights | Thaiger

    Commuters criticise ‘dangerous’ Bangkok Apiwat Station’s lack of lights

    Commuters took to social media to criticise officials involved with the construction and opening of the “dangerous” Bangkok Apiwat Central Station. Two weeks after the official opening of the station, formerly known as Bang Sue Grand Station, roads around the station remain dark due to the absence of street lights. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) promised that street lighting…

  • Thailand NewsPolice officer found dead in petrol station bathroom in Rayong | Thaiger

    Police officer found dead in petrol station bathroom in Rayong

    A maid and an attendant at a petrol station in the eastern province of Rayong found the dead body of a police officer inside a bathroom. The cause of the death is under investigation. The deceased man was named Chaiyasak Punnapongchai, the 54-year-old Deputy Inspector of Mueang Rayong Police Station. He was discovered inside a bathroom at a petrol station…

  • Thailand NewsOpportunist thief arrested for stealing Louis Vuitton bag at Bangkok mall | Thaiger

    Opportunist thief arrested for stealing Louis Vuitton bag at Bangkok mall

    An opportunist, light-fingered thief was arrested yesterday after she stole a Louis Vuitton handbag from a sexy model while she was trying on clothes at the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Bangkok. The clothes store owner, in Terminal 21 of the Asoke area of Bangkok, filed a complaint at Lumphini Police Station that a customer’s Louis Vuitton handbag was stolen…

  • Thailand NewsPattaya police officer denies fining vape-carrying Chinese tourists | Thaiger

    Pattaya police officer denies fining vape-carrying Chinese tourists

    The identity of the senior police sergeant major from Mueang Pattaya Police Station, who illegally fined Chinese tourists for carrying vapes, has been revealed. The suspect officer, referred to as “K” in previous reports, is Police Sergeant Major Nopphakit Pornwatthanakit. Nopphakit denies all allegations. Thai media also reported that Nopphakit has been praised in the past for his good deeds…

  • Thailand NewsKrabi hotel accused of favouring foreigners over Thais | Thaiger

    Krabi hotel accused of favouring foreigners over Thais

    Thai tourists condemned a hotel in Krabi for discriminatory service standards after the hotel provided better treatment to foreign guests and neglected domestic tourists. They claimed that the hotel prioritised foreign guests with higher purchasing power over them for financial gain. A Thai man posted three videos on his TikTok account, @thetharm, to share his bad experience at a hotel…

  • Thailand NewsPolitical activists seek justice after Pinky allowed to remove EM tag | Thaiger

    Political activists seek justice after Pinky allowed to remove EM tag

    Political activists in Thailand are seeking permission to get their electronic monitoring (EM) tags removed after the Thai Court granted permission for a female actress, Savika “Pinky” Chaiyadaj, to have her tag removed. Thai activists demand the removal of their EM tags, claiming they have committed no harm, caused no loss, and have not committed fraud or murder. According to…

  • Thailand NewsFormer RTN officer seeks justice after being jailed for 8 years on fake child rapist charge | Thaiger

    Former RTN officer seeks justice after being jailed for 8 years on fake child rapist charge

    A former Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officer is seeking justice after he was wrongly branded a child rapist by his ex-girlfriend and her daughter and jailed for eight years on the trumped-up charge. The daughter recently revealed the truth because she alleges she is being abused by her mother. She wants her mother to face the music because of her…

  • Thailand NewsPattaya police chief transferred for fining vape carrying Chinese tourists | Thaiger

    Pattaya police chief transferred for fining vape carrying Chinese tourists

    A senior police sergeant major from Mueng Pattaya Police Station has been transferred to Chon Buri Police Headquarters after admitting he illegally fined Chinese tourists 30,000 baht for carrying vapes. A Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand committee member, Paisarn Suethanuwong, revealed the wrongdoing of a Mueng Pattaya Police Station chief on a Channel 3 news show yesterday. Paisarn said…

  • Thailand NewsAmerican man dies after crashing Ducati into trailer truck | Thaiger

    American man dies after crashing Ducati into trailer truck

    Tragedy struck in the southern province of Phang Nga yesterday when an American man died after crashing his Ducati motorcycle into a trailer truck at 5.30pm on Phetchakasem Road. Officers from Mueng Phan Nga Police Station investigated the scene of the accident and found the body of the foreign man on the road at the back of the trailer truck.…

  • Thailand NewsChinese tourists wrongly fined 60,000 baht for carrying vapes, says law expert | Thaiger

    Chinese tourists wrongly fined 60,000 baht for carrying vapes, says law expert

    A group of Thai tour guides revealed that a group of Chinese tourists were fined 60,000 baht for carrying vapes in Pattaya. The police also gave a 50% discount and let the tourists pay only 30,000 baht. According to Thai law, Thai police cannot arrest or fine foreigners with vapes. They have to report the issue to the court. The…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok public bus condemned by Singaporean tourist | Thaiger

    Bangkok public bus condemned by Singaporean tourist

    A Singaporean tourist condemned Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) public buses after the driver of a bus in the capital closed its door and drove off as she was about to climb onboard. A Singaporean woman posted a video on her TikTok account, njwah, complaining about the service of a public bus in Bangkok. She wrote captions in Thai and…

  • Pattaya NewsThai woman escapes deadly nylon wire strung acrosss a Chon Buri road | Thaiger

    Thai woman escapes deadly nylon wire strung acrosss a Chon Buri road

    A Thai woman narrowly escaped with her life after she rode her motorcycle into a deadly nylon wire on a road in Chon Buri province. The victim suspects two teenage boys living nearby of setting up the death trap strung across the road. The 41 year old victim, Chanita, a nurse in a hospital in the Phanat Nikhom district of Chon…

  • Thailand News4 Chinese tourists & Thai tour guide injured in Chiang Mai crash | Thaiger

    4 Chinese tourists & Thai tour guide injured in Chiang Mai crash

    Four Chinese tourists and a Thai tour guide were injured after a minibus crashed into an electric pole on a road in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The minivan driver was unharmed and is being questioned to find the cause of the accident. Three rescue teams and officers from Doi Saket Police Station rushed to the scene on the…