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 NewsFreerunning Frenchmen warned by police after thrillseeking exploits in Thailand | Thaiger

    Freerunning Frenchmen warned by police after thrillseeking exploits in Thailand

    Police warned five thrill-seeking Frenchmen that they face fines and time in prison if they are caught freerunning on residential buildings in Thailand. Trang Provincial Police received complaints from locals yesterday of the Frenchmen, aged between 25 and 30, filming their freerunning (also known as parkour) exploits over eight residential buildings in the southern province of Trang. Residents told police…

  • Thailand NewsBesotted Thai man begins 1,200 kilometre journey on foot to propose to girlfriend | Thaiger

    Besotted Thai man begins 1,200 kilometre journey on foot to propose to girlfriend

    A besotted Thai man has started a 1,400 kilometre journey across Thailand on foot with the goal of proposing to his girlfriend – who he met on social media five months ago – on Valentine’s Day. He set off from his home in Nakhon Nayok province in central Thailand and is aiming to reach his girlfriend’s house in Satun province…

  • Northern Thailand NewsApproval sought for 70 million baht junk boat-shaped skywalk in northeast Thailand | Thaiger

    Approval sought for 70 million baht junk boat-shaped skywalk in northeast Thailand

    Government officials in northeast Thailand are seeking approval for a 70 million baht budget for a new boat-shaped skywalk in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo called the “Khao Chakan Skywalk.” The Khao Chakan Skywalk will be made of glass and made in the shape of a “junk” sailboat, a type of classical Chinese sailing ship used in Southeast Asian…

  • Thailand NewsPolice ordain as monks to pray for Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha | Thaiger

    Police ordain as monks to pray for Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha

    Police officers and local men ordained as monks at Bang Phlee Yai Klang Temple in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok yesterday to make merit and pray for the recovery of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati. In total, 49 police officers and local men took part in the ordination ceremony. The group will observe 227 rules for monks outlined…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFerris wheel cabin door falls off and knocks out Isaan man | Thaiger

    Ferris wheel cabin door falls off and knocks out Isaan man

    A young Thai man was attending the Red Cross Fair in Buriram province, northeast Thailand, last week when a 20 kilogramme Ferris wheel cabin door fell on top of him from a height of 10 metres and knocked him out. A rescue team rushed to the event in Lam Prai Mart district to give first aid to 21 year old…

  • Northern Thailand NewsWoman working at karaoke bar in Thailand vanishes in suspicious circumstances | Thaiger

    Woman working at karaoke bar in Thailand vanishes in suspicious circumstances

    Police are trying to locate a woman who went missing in strange circumstances after leaving the karaoke bar she works at with a male customer five days ago in Leoi province in northeast Thailand. The manager at Bai Fern Karaoke Bar filed a missing persons report with the police on Wednesday, January 18, three days after 38 year old Phantiwa…

  • Thailand NewsMan found dead after cycling nearly 70 kilometres to find job | Thaiger

    Man found dead after cycling nearly 70 kilometres to find job

    A man was found dead at a bus stop in the Isaan province of Roi Et after cycling nearly 70 kilometres to find a job. It is believed he had a heart attack. Locals also reported that he got hit by a car the day before he died but refused treatment. Officers from Mueang Roi Et Police Station were notified…

  • Thailand NewsNew public park in Bangkok to open after removal of 2 squatters | Thaiger

    New public park in Bangkok to open after removal of 2 squatters

    A new public park in Bangkok is opening soon. The construction of Pathum Wananurak Park was finished five years ago but it has never been opened to the public because two squatting families refused to move off the land. Pathum Wananurak Park is located next to CentralWorld shopping mall. The park took over a residential area called Rong Poon Community…

  • Thailand News8 million MOPH webpages hacked by gambling websites | Thaiger

    8 million MOPH webpages hacked by gambling websites

    The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) closed approximately eight million official government-related webpages after they were hacked by illegal gambling websites. MOPH Information and Communication Technology Centre Director Anan Kanoksin told Thai media that illicit online gambling websites have been illegally squatting on government platforms after they sat idle for months. The illegal gambling websites were able to squat on…

  • Thailand News2 excise officers arrested in 300,000 baht ransom kidnapping case | Thaiger

    2 excise officers arrested in 300,000 baht ransom kidnapping case

    Two excise officers and one of their friends were arrested yesterday after they kidnapped a phone shop worker and held her to a 300,000 baht ransom in the central province of Samut Prakarn. A Chinese man, Wu Yiwen, filed a complaint at Mueang Samut Prakarn Police Station yesterday at 3.30pm. The 31 year old said the kidnapping incident happened at…

  • Thailand NewsMan arrested for stealing over 10 million baht in valuables at a fitness centre | Thaiger

    Man arrested for stealing over 10 million baht in valuables at a fitness centre

    A thief who stole over 10 million baht of valuables from a businessman at a fitness centre two weeks ago was arrested yesterday. The man pretended to be a fitness centre customer, stole safety box keys, and duplicated the keys to complete a series of thefts. On Tuesday, January 10, 35 year old businessman, Sathit, filed a complaint at Mueang Nonthaburi…

  • Thailand NewsFree shuttle bus from Yaowarat to Khao San for Chinese New Year | Thaiger

    Free shuttle bus from Yaowarat to Khao San for Chinese New Year

    Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is providing tourists with free shuttle buses between Yaowarat Road and Khao San Road from tomorrow until January 23 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Deputy Bangkok Governor Wissanu Subsomphon announced yesterday that the BMA would temporarily operate a Yaowarat-Khao San Road BMA Feeder to facilitate tourists and reduce traffic jams during the Chinese Spring Festival,…

  • Thailand NewsSchoolgirl receives warning letter after violating school rules by wearing a wedding dress | Thaiger

    Schoolgirl receives warning letter after violating school rules by wearing a wedding dress

    A schoolgirl received a warning letter from her school for violating the rules by wearing makeup and a wedding dress to advertise a wedding studio owned by her family. The story went viral on social media with netizens slating the school. The owner of the Nong Mee Wedding Studio in the central province of Lopburi shared pictures of his sister…

  • Thailand News66 year old monk accused of raping 12 year old novice | Thaiger

    66 year old monk accused of raping 12 year old novice

    A 66 year old monk is on the run from a temple in the central province of Prachin Buri after being accused of raping and sexually abusing a 12 year old novice for more than six months. The scandal emerged after the novice visited a hospital due to a complaint about an anus infection. The 12 year old was sent to…

  • Thailand NewsDrowsy driver crashes sedan into cyclists killing 1, injuring 10 | Thaiger

    Drowsy driver crashes sedan into cyclists killing 1, injuring 10

    A drowsy driver fell asleep behind the wheel of his sedan and crashed into a group of cyclists on the road in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. One cyclist was killed and 10 were injured. A security camera on the Nakhon Si Thammarat-Surat Thani Road in the Sichon district clearly shows the incident that happened at 7am on…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok to become brighter, greener, cheaper after street lights upgrade | Thaiger

    Bangkok to become brighter, greener, cheaper after street lights upgrade

    Bangkok Metropolitan Administration plans to improve the city’s streetlights. The Department of Public Works reported it will replace 25,000 of the capital’s 400,000 high-pressure sodium (HPS) light bulbs with light-emitting diodes (LED) to make Bangkok brighter, greener, and cheaper. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told the media on Tuesday, January 3 about the plan to change the city’s street light bulbs…

  • Thailand NewsNational Park officers in Koh Samet accused of extortion | Thaiger

    National Park officers in Koh Samet accused of extortion

    A member of Parliament accused Mu Koh Samet National Park officers of extorting nearly 2 million baht per year from public transport drivers and business owners on Samet Island in the eastern province of Rayong. Khaosod reported yesterday, that Okas Thai Party MP (or Thai Opportunity Party), Damrong Pichate, recently gave an interview to a news programme about money extortion…

  • Thailand NewsAnna scoops Miss Universe Leadership Award | Thaiger

    Anna scoops Miss Universe Leadership Award

    Miss Universe Thailand, Anna Sueanggam-iam, may not have made the final round of 16 contestants but she did manage to scoop the Transformational Leadership Award or ImpactWayv Award. American beauty queen R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned the 71st Miss Universe 2022 on Sunday, and in doing so became the ninth US beauty to win it. Venezuela’s representative, Amanda Dudamel, was named…

  • Thailand NewsThai man’s android phone hacked to the tune of 101,000 baht | Thaiger

    Thai man’s android phone hacked to the tune of 101,000 baht

    A Thai man was hacked to the tune of over 100,000 baht last week. The victim insists he had not accessed any suspicious websites, taken any call centre calls or filled in any online forms but says his android phone was targeted by hackers. A number of Thai netizens revealed they too had become victims of a scammer gang and…

  • Thailand NewsA bungling low-flying helicopter pilot injures eight people of Children’s Day | Thaiger

    A bungling low-flying helicopter pilot injures eight people of Children’s Day

    A bungling Royal Thai Navy (RTN) helicopter pilot caused chaos on Children’s Day by flying too low. The helicopter pulled down tents on top of people, injuring eight people including five children and three adults. The incident happened at a Children’s Day event on Saturday in the central province of Chantaburi. According to a report on Khaosod, RTN officers flew…

  • Thailand NewsBentley driver’s blood test reveals methamphetamine use | Thaiger

    Bentley driver’s blood test reveals methamphetamine use

    Police today revealed that the Bentley driver who caused a three-car crash was not only under the influence of alcohol but drugs were also found in his system. Police confirmed to the media that a drug test discovered methamphetamine and another unidentified narcotic in his blood system. More updates are expected to be announced this evening. The Bentley driver, Suthat…

  • Thailand NewsBig-hearted garbage worker gives away reconditioned bicycles to needy kids on Children’s Day | Thaiger

    Big-hearted garbage worker gives away reconditioned bicycles to needy kids on Children’s Day

    A big-hearted garbage worker intends to celebrate Children’s Day by giving away reconditioned bicycles to underprivileged kids. The refuse collector, Saksan “Bird” Maksorntong, revealed he has rebuilt a number of broken and abandoned bicycles he found on his rounds and plans to give them to underprivileged kids as a gift on Children’s Day. Every second Saturday of January is Thailand’s…

  • Thailand NewsDSI accused of soliciting 50 million baht bribe from gambling king | Thaiger

    DSI accused of soliciting 50 million baht bribe from gambling king

    Help Crime Victim Club President Autchariya Ruengrattanapong accused the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) of soliciting bribes of 50 million baht from a gambling kingpin named Somchai Jutikitdaecha. Somchai, also known as Long Joo, is a well-known personality in the eastern provinces of Thailand, especially in Rayong. He is well-liked in the community and perceived as kind because he helps…

  • Thailand NewsHalf-naked corpse of woman found near railway in Isaan | Thaiger

    Half-naked corpse of woman found near railway in Isaan

    A railway maintenance worker notified the police after finding a half-naked corpse of a woman near a railway in the Wattana Nakhon district in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo yesterday. The officers from the Watthana Nakhon Police Station and a rescue team rushed to the scene after receiving the notification. They found the corpse of a woman aged about…

  • Thailand NewsRussian man attacked in Pattaya bar after refusing to pay 60 baht bill | Thaiger

    Russian man attacked in Pattaya bar after refusing to pay 60 baht bill

    A Russian man was assaulted by a female bar owner in Pattaya after he refused to pay a 60-baht bill. The owner claimed she acted in self-defence as the man was drunk, refused to pay the bill, and slapped her in the face first. A rescue team was notified that a Russian man, later identified as Michael, was injured in…

  • Thailand News2-metre tapeworm found in Thai man who eats raw meat | Thaiger

    2-metre tapeworm found in Thai man who eats raw meat

    A Thai man posted a video on his social media TikTok account to warn people to avoid eating raw meat after a two-metre tapeworm was found in his body. Amarit Chuetamuen posted videos on his TikTok account, @tex2499, to share his deworming experience. In the first video, Amarit told his followers that his anus had become itchy and then felt…

  • Thailand NewsMotorists seek compensation after electric transformer explosion damages 4 vehicles | Thaiger

    Motorists seek compensation after electric transformer explosion damages 4 vehicles

    Motorists are seeking compensation after an electric transformer exploded and destroyed three cars and a motorcycle in front of a garage in the Song Phi Nong district of Suphan Buri. The deputy superintendent of the Tungkok Police Station, Taksin Khanthongdee, told Khaosod that the police and firefighters were notified of the fire in front of the U Chai Service garage…

  • Thailand NewsThai beauty queen wears dress inspired by her background in Miss Universe 2022 | Thaiger

    Thai beauty queen wears dress inspired by her background in Miss Universe 2022

    Miss Universe Thailand 2022 dazzled fans today at a preliminary round of Miss Universe 2022 in the United States with a dress inspired by her life as the daughter of garbage collectors Anna Sueangam-iam was crowned Miss Universe Thailand in August last year but to many Thais, the 24 year old is fondly known as the “beauty garbage queen” because of…

  • Thailand NewsWoman kidnapped and left for dead in deep forest in Northern Thailand | Thaiger

    Woman kidnapped and left for dead in deep forest in Northern Thailand

    National Park rangers rescued a 65 year old woman who was kidnapped by two unidentified men yesterday and left for dead in a deep forest in the northern province of Lampang. The leader of the Wian Kosai Nation Park, Prawit Jaikam, reported to the media that he received a message from a woman, in Baan Pang Ma O in the…

  • Thailand NewsBentley driver charged with drunk driving granted bail at 100,000 baht | Thaiger

    Bentley driver charged with drunk driving granted bail at 100,000 baht

    Under pressure police finally charged a Bentley driver with drunk driving for causing a three-car crash. After much public criticism and deliberation, police charged the driver because he refused to take a breathalyser test in the first place. The driver was reported to have been granted bail of 100,000 baht yesterday. Suthat Siwapiromrat, the millionaire Bentley driver who caused the…