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 NewsTAT promotes Thailand as top Indian wedding destination, no elephants included | Thaiger

    TAT promotes Thailand as top Indian wedding destination, no elephants included

    To register on the romantic radar of soon-to-be-wed couples from India, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, invited 15 Indian wedding planners to highlight popular wedding destinations in the Land of Smiles. The wedding planners visited seminars in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui in Surat Thani province and Khao Lak in Phang Nga province from March 15 to 22. The…

  • Thailand NewsThai netizens share video of mysterious woman standing still on Pattaya sidewalk for hours | Thaiger

    Thai netizens share video of mysterious woman standing still on Pattaya sidewalk for hours

    A Thai TikTok user has shared a video of a woman standing still on the sidewalk in Pattaya in the middle of the night. Thai netizens commented on the post, saying she might be homeless, and she only took one or two steps then stood without moving for hours. Many people urged authorities to take care of her to prevent…

  • Thailand NewsWoman wields sword, tries to slash man who refused threesome | Thaiger

    Woman wields sword, tries to slash man who refused threesome

    Armed with a Samurai sword, a deranged woman knocked on the door of her male friend after he and his wife reportedly refused to have a threesome with her. At least, that’s what he said. The couple shared that they were threatened several times until they had to flee from Bangkok, but the woman could still stalk them. Thai netizens…

  • Thailand NewsTuesday Covid Update: 21,088 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 21,088 new cases; provincial totals

    91 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 25,603 with 3,905 of those fatalities since the start of this year. The daily infection numbers are a sharp drop from the steadily rising numbers over the past 2 – 3 weeks. But the Covid-related death numbers are still on a slow rising…

  • Thailand NewsBank of Thailand updates 20 baht banknote for improved hygiene and longevity | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand updates 20 baht banknote for improved hygiene and longevity

    The Bank of Thailand has launched a new 20 baht banknote made of polyester. The banknote is said to resist moisture and grime, resulting in a longer shelf-life. The central bank began distributing the shiny new baht greenbacks on March 24. The Bank of Thailand announced that people used the 20 baht banknote the most frequently, making them dirty and…

  • Thailand NewsTeenage boy trampled to death by wild elephant in Hua Hin forest | Thaiger

    Teenage boy trampled to death by wild elephant in Hua Hin forest

    The body of a teenage boy was found lying on the road near Kaeng Krachan National Park in Hua Hin district of the southern province Prachuap Khiri Khan in the early hours of Saturday morning. Local residents reported seeing a wild elephant wandering around the community foraging for food. They say the teenage boy might have been riding his motorbike…

  • Bangkok NewsThai netizens complain election banner forces Western woman in wheelchair into street | Thaiger

    Thai netizens complain election banner forces Western woman in wheelchair into street

    A video of a wheelchair user who got stuck on the sidewalk due to Bangkok’s governor election ads and had to take a dangerous detour into the street has gone viral on Thai Twitter. The incident follows many more complaints about the election banners, which have been blocking almost every sidewalk in Bangkok. The city’s banner bombardment has given Thai…

  • Thailand NewsUPDATE: Cybercrime police charged in kidnap for ransom plot, 2 former officers suspected | Thaiger

    UPDATE: Cybercrime police charged in kidnap for ransom plot, 2 former officers suspected

    The Royal Thai Police arrested two officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, or CCIB, on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping a gambling couple and their child last week. The wife claimed that officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau kidnapped her and her family for ransom, after winning 2 million baht from online gambling. The woman said that she, her…

  • Thailand NewsMonday Covid Update: 24,892 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Monday Covid Update: 24,892 new cases; provincial totals

    97 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 25,512 with 3,814 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 24,892 new Covid-19 cases and 27,254 recoveries. There are now 256,667 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsOfficers from Thailand’s cybercrime police allegedly involved in kidnap for ransom plot | Thaiger

    Officers from Thailand’s cybercrime police allegedly involved in kidnap for ransom plot

    A woman claims officers from the cybercrime investigations department were involved in a kidnap for ransom plot after she had won 2 million baht in gambling. The woman is seeking help from a celebrity lawyer and claims that she, her husband, and her 11 year old child were kidnapped by a group of 15 people, including police officers, and were…

  • Thailand NewsPantip admin seeks help from netizens, after scammers swindle bank account | Thaiger

    Pantip admin seeks help from netizens, after scammers swindle bank account

    After losing all of his money to a scam call centre, one unfortunate Pantip admin has sought help from the best source he knows: Thai netizens. The male admin — who goes by the alias “Latte” — recently shared his sorry story on Pantip’s official Facebook page, saying he had 0.00 baht left in his bank account after the scam…

  • Thailand NewsMan allegedly pours oil on neighbour and sets his body on fire | Thaiger

    Man allegedly pours oil on neighbour and sets his body on fire

    A man poured oil over his neighbour and then set his body on fire while the victim was relaxing on a chair at home. Witnesses saw the man engulfed in flames running out of the house. He survived but was severely burned. One witness says the two men would often fight about the victim’s roosters making too much noise. 35…

  • Covid-19 NewsFriday Covid Update: 28,379 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Friday Covid Update: 28,379 new cases; provincial totals

    92 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 25,222 with 3,524 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 28,379 new Covid-19 cases and 23,843 recoveries. There are now 251,214 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsPolice in Thailand warn that some April Fool’s Day jokes break the law | Thaiger

    Police in Thailand warn that some April Fool’s Day jokes break the law

    It’s no joke. April Fools jokes could land you in Thai jail. The Royal Thai Police is warning the public to be careful with their pranks today, saying that any jokes that cause danger or widely spread fake news can lead to jail time. The Deputy Spokesperson of The Royal Thai Police, Suwat Deepor, warned residents about the jokes and…

  • Crime NewsMan arrested at Bangkok airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs | Thaiger

    Man arrested at Bangkok airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs

    A man was arrested at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok while he was allegedly about to bring illicit drugs onboard. He confessed that he tried to bring drugs from Bangkok to sell in Hat Yai District of southern province Songkla. The 31 year old alleged drug dealer, Noppawit “Kram” Nithipaiboonsarn, was arrested with various drugs, including 206.75 grams of…

  • Thailand NewsSurgeons find gauze inside woman’s body from breast augmentation 10 years ago | Thaiger

    Surgeons find gauze inside woman’s body from breast augmentation 10 years ago

    A woman has been suffering from pain in her breast and found out gauze fabric had been left inside her body from a breast augmentation a decade ago. She sought help from a celebrity lawyer who is now calling for the beauty clinic to take responsibility. The lawyer, Sittha Beerbangkird, shared the case on his official Facebook page to warn…

  • Thailand NewsThai-Malaysian border checkpoint reopens tomorrow, Test & Go travellers welcome | Thaiger

    Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint reopens tomorrow, Test & Go travellers welcome

    After being closed for around two years due to the pandemic, the major checkpoint along the Thai-Malaysian border will reopen tomorrow. Those travelling from Malaysia will be able to enter Thailand’s Songkhla province through the Sadao Border Checkpoint. Reports say the residents and businesses in the region hope reopening the border will benefit the local economy. Vaccinated travellers entering Thailand…

  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: 27,560 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: 27,560 new cases; provincial totals

    85 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 25,130 with 3,432 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 27,560 new Covid-19 cases and 25,077 recoveries. There are now 246,770 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsIsaan province Surin steps back plans to declare Covid-19 an endemic | Thaiger

    Isaan province Surin steps back plans to declare Covid-19 an endemic

    The Isaan province of Surin is stepping back on plans to be the first area in Thailand to declare Covid-19 as an endemic. The provincial government planned to announce Covid-19 as an endemic on April 1, but pushed back the plans with concerns that the infection rate could spike after Songkran, the Thai New Year. Yesterday, Surin’s official public relations…

  • Thailand NewsForeign man’s gold necklace stolen while filming video in Bangkok’s Asoke | Thaiger

    Foreign man’s gold necklace stolen while filming video in Bangkok’s Asoke

    A western man’s gold necklace was stolen as he was taking a video of himself walking in Bangkok’s Asoke area off Sukhumvit Road. As he was walking by the BTS station at night, a person who appeared to be a transgender woman approached him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug and unclasping the necklace. The foreigner didn’t…

  • Thailand NewsWednesday Covid Update: 25,389 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: 25,389 new cases; provincial totals

    87 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 25,045 with 3,347 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 25,389 new Covid-19 cases and 26,084 recoveries. There are now 244,372 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsTaxi leaves passenger at petrol station, drives off with luggage, tourist’s passport | Thaiger

    Taxi leaves passenger at petrol station, drives off with luggage, tourist’s passport

    UPDATE: The taxi driver has met with the police and says didn’t leave the tourist, he was just using the restroom. Read more HERE. Original story… A taxi driver allegedly robbed a passenger and left him and his friend at a petrol station in Isaan province Ubon Ratchathani. The tourist from Bangkok says that not only did the driver overcharge…

  • Thailand NewsHomemade booze regulations being drafted to allow Thais to produce alcohol | Thaiger

    Homemade booze regulations being drafted to allow Thais to produce alcohol

    The Thai government is looking into allowing citizens to produce alcohol at home, but the spirits would only be allowed for personal consumption and not for sale. The revised laws will likely allow Thais to brew beer as well as distil whiskey, which is often brewed with herbs to make the traditional and homemade spirit “ya dong.” The deputy government…

  • Thailand NewsKoh Phangan’s Full Moon Party set for Songkran, but no word on water fights | Thaiger

    Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party set for Songkran, but no word on water fights

    Koh Phangan’s famous Full Moon Party has been given the green light for Songkran, the Thai New Year known for massive water fights, but there hasn’t been any word if water splashing will be allowed. Koh Phangan, one of the trio of Gulf of Thailand islands off the Surat Thani coast, is known for its massive parties on Haad Rin…

  • Thailand NewsTuesday Covid Update: 21,678 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 21,678 new cases; provincial totals

    78 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,958 with 3,260 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 21,678 new Covid-19 cases and 27,183 recoveries. There are now 245,154 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsConvenience store employee attacked after telling a customer to wear a mask | Thaiger

    Convenience store employee attacked after telling a customer to wear a mask

    Four teenagers were arrested after they allegedly attacked a convenience store clerk who told customers to wear face masks before entering the shop over the weekend. Surveillance camera footage from the shop in the central province of Ratchaburi shows a group of teenagers gathering around the 19 year old employee before attacking him, punching and kicking until he fell on…

  • Thailand NewsHua Hin motorbike taxi driver shot to death after fight over foreign passenger | Thaiger

    Hua Hin motorbike taxi driver shot to death after fight over foreign passenger

    A motorcycle taxi driver in Hua Hin allegedly shot and killed another win driver after a fight over a foreign passenger, Thai media reports. The 62 year old win driver was shot to death in Hua Hin’s nightlife area in Soi Ha Yaek in the southern province of Prachuap Kiri Khan. Officers from Hua Hin Police Station found the driver…

  • Thailand NewsThai grandma praised as village’s top snake catcher, grabs pythons with her bare hands | Thaiger

    Thai grandma praised as village’s top snake catcher, grabs pythons with her bare hands

    A 67 year old grandma in Thailand’s Isaan region, known to catch large snakes with her bare hands, has been praised by Surin residents as the top “community rescuer” after she caught her biggest python so far. When someone in the community finds a snake, they come to grandma Prakuad “Own” Pasomsi to catch it. The grandma has been catching…

  • Crime NewsPattaya police raid karaoke bar, some partygoers also test positive for drugs | Thaiger

    Pattaya police raid karaoke bar, some partygoers also test positive for drugs

    Police in Pattaya raided a karaoke bar open past the 11pm cutoff time set by the government under the Covid-19 preventative measures. Officers from the Mueng Pattaya Police Station went by the karaoke bar Casanova at 1:30am on Sunday. Many cars and motorcycles were parked out front and music could be heard coming from inside the bar. Customers dancing and…

  • Thailand NewsBody of Burmese fisherman found in oil tank in southern Thailand’s Surat Thani | Thaiger

    Body of Burmese fisherman found in oil tank in southern Thailand’s Surat Thani

    The body of a Burmese fisherman was found in an oil tank on a fishing boat docked in the southern province of Surat Thani. The tank was on a fishing boat where the man had worked which was found by a painter who was going to clean and paint the boat’s engine room. He tried to move the tank out…