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 NewsWoman urges people to beware of air-con scam in Thailand | Thaiger

    Woman urges people to beware of air-con scam in Thailand

    A Thai woman warned people to be careful after she was scammed into buying two second-hand air conditioning units with a secret top-up installment plan. The woman posted her story on Facebook, under the moniker June Smile, of how she was conned into buying two air-con units with an extra 900 baht a month top-up plan despite believing she had…

  • Central Thailand NewsHouse in central Thailand collapses & kills 88 year old woman | Thaiger

    House in central Thailand collapses & kills 88 year old woman

    An 88 year old woman died yesterday after her house in Ang Thong province in central Thailand collapsed on top of her. The heavy rain was too much for the 100 year old construction, located in the Bang Chak sub-district, Wiset Chai Chan District, in Ang Thong, and the roof literally fell in. The house was built in a traditional…

  • Central Thailand NewsThai man beset by Black Magic faces jail for stealing holy relic | Thaiger

    Thai man beset by Black Magic faces jail for stealing holy relic

    A Thai druggie obsessed with Black Magic faces five years in jail and a 100,000 baht fine after stealing a holy statue from some military premises. Habitual drug taker Thongchai Saengtrakarn was arrested yesterday after stealing the holy statute from the entrance of the Defence Technology Institute in Nontha Buri province near Bangkok on Thursday, July 28. The 38 year…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok chief says 300 water pumps need changing to fix floods | Thaiger

    Bangkok chief says 300 water pumps need changing to fix floods

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt called upon the city’s private sector to help solve the capital’s age-old flooding conundrum. The 56 year old chief said he is determined to sort out Bangkok’s perpetual drainage system. He revealed that, after a thorough investigation, the city needs to replace about 300 water pumps that are over 15 years old. Last Friday, Chadchart inspected…

  • Road deathsPatient dies after the route of emergency rescue van blocked | Thaiger

    Patient dies after the route of emergency rescue van blocked

    A heartless nurse who blocked the path of an ambulance, and therefore delayed its journey to help a critical patient, is threatening to sue the emergency services and netizens who criticised her after she complained about the ambulance. The patient later died because the emergency service van did not get there in time. Tal Sulawan, a practical nurse in the…

  • Central Thailand NewsKilljoy scientist poo-poos Thai hermit’s supernatural power show | Thaiger

    Killjoy scientist poo-poos Thai hermit’s supernatural power show

    The video of a hermit showing off his supernatural powers by sitting in a large pan of boiling water has resurfaced after two years and gone viral. But, a killjoy scientist has dismissed the supernatural claim as nothing but smoke and mirrors. The video featuring the hermit, also a Thai tattoo artist, standing and sitting in a giant wok of…

  • Central Thailand NewsBomb explosion injures 5 students in a Thailand school | Thaiger

    Bomb explosion injures 5 students in a Thailand school

    Five teenage students were injured yesterday after a ping pong bomb exploded in the classroom of a technical college in the central province of Ayutthaya. One of the students was carrying the bomb inside a school bag and when he accidentally dropped the bag at about 11am it exploded injuring him and four of his classmates. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok film festival urged to avoid deep south torture movies | Thaiger

    Bangkok film festival urged to avoid deep south torture movies

    The Internal Security Operation Command urged Bangkok’s open-air film festival to avoid screening movies or documentaries related to torture in the deep south provinces of Thailand. The military department said the event should only bring happiness and smiles to residents. Bangkok’s open-air film festival, which rolled out the red carpet on July 7 at Laan Kon Mueng space in front…

  • Northern Thailand NewsA debt-ridden Thai woman seeks help after spiky durian assault | Thaiger

    A debt-ridden Thai woman seeks help after spiky durian assault

    A Thai woman in the northern province of Lamphun has asked for media help after she was assaulted with some durian fruit because of a loan shark debt. The woman, Duangduen, revealed she borrowed about 20,000 baht from a money lender to open a shop with a friend last year. But things spiraled out of control and the interest repayment…

  • Bangkok NewsThai couple killed in drink driving incident in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thai couple killed in drink driving incident in Bangkok

    A Thai couple selling food on a footpath along Rama 3 Road in Bangkok were killed yesterday in a drink driving incident. The drunk driver was caught by residents while trying to flee the scene. The two deaths happened in front of a food court named I SEE SEE on Rama 3 Road at about 5pm yesterday. The couple who…

  • Thailand NewsSamut observation tower to finally open after 10 years | Thaiger

    Samut observation tower to finally open after 10 years

    Construction work in Bangkok is historically slow, whether it is burying cables underground, opening new roads, or, in this case, the reopening of Samut Prakarn Observation Tower. Thirteen years after plans were drawn up and 10 years after construction work began the building will finally open to the public on August 22. Last month, a Facebook page, Must Share, ต้องแฉ…

  • Thailand NewsThai influencer suffers 2 years abuse by sex pest security guard | Thaiger

    Thai influencer suffers 2 years abuse by sex pest security guard

    A Thai influencer hopes that two years of being sexually harassed by an obsessive stalker is now over after seeking help from a lawyer. The female influencer, Mintra “Pare” Cheuwangkam, aka Mintan, met a Thai lawyer Ratchapon Sirisakhon, yesterday to discuss two years of hell after being hounded by a security guard with an alleged rape and drugs charge on…

  • Central Thailand NewsChinese man allegedly murders Thai wife for 70 million baht business | Thaiger

    Chinese man allegedly murders Thai wife for 70 million baht business

    A Chinese man was arrested last week in the central province of Pathum Thani for allegedly murdering his Thai wife and covering it up. The man, Guang Chan, was arrested for the alleged murder and conspiracy to cover up her death on July 18. The 48 year old took his wife, Parawee, to a hospital last month and told staff…

  • Central Thailand News2 men die in tragic rail accident in central Thailand | Thaiger

    2 men die in tragic rail accident in central Thailand

    Two men were killed in a tragic accident this morning after being hit by a train in Sara Buri province, in central Thailand. One man stumbled and fell on a rail track while trying to cross it. Another man, seeing him fall, went to assist him but they both didn’t make it and were hit by the oncoming train at…

  • Thailand NewsLeading academics & doctors in Thailand demand govt to pause cannabis bill | Thaiger

    Leading academics & doctors in Thailand demand govt to pause cannabis bill

    Some 851 doctors and alumni of the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, launched a campaign to get the Thai government to pause its cannabis decriminalisation bill for the safety of its children. Yesterday, the President of the Forensic Physician Association of Thailand, Smith Srisont, posted a document with a list of requests to the government demanding a “cannabis…

  • World NewsThailand & Cambodian netizens row over lamduan flower | Thaiger

    Thailand & Cambodian netizens row over lamduan flower

    A row has broken out between Thai and Cambodian netizens over Cambodia’s national flower, which is featured on posters promoting the historical Thai movie Love Destiny 2. The Thai film studio GDH uploaded the poster on its official Facebook page on Saturday inviting audiences to reserve the tickets in advance as the film would be screened in five days on…

  • Central Thailand NewsBenevolent Thai monk gives away 300,000 baht & gold rings on birthday | Thaiger

    Benevolent Thai monk gives away 300,000 baht & gold rings on birthday

    To celebrate his 35th birthday a benevolent Thai monk gave away 300,000 baht and 78 gold rings that cost 800 baht each to residents in the central province of Phitsanulok. The 35 year old monk, Sittichok Virarote, aka Khu Ba Boon Lom, is loved and praised by locals because of his charity work and help in developing communities near his…

  • Crime NewsJustice Minister insists Thailand winning the war against drugs | Thaiger

    Justice Minister insists Thailand winning the war against drugs

    The Justice Minister, Somsak Thepsutin, insists the government is winning the war against drugs in Thailand because of the kingdom’s strict laws, despite opposition saying it is worse and out of control. Pheu Thai Party MP Manaporn Charoensri yesterday blamed the government at the censure motion for failing to control the drug situation in Thailand. The MP said drugs were…

  • Central Thailand NewsEx Thai military man shoots his mother in law after drunken row | Thaiger

    Ex Thai military man shoots his mother in law after drunken row

    A former military man shot his mother in law in a drunken rage last night after a row with a next door neighbour. Chaluay Karnjiakjorn, a former paramilitary officer from a Volunteer Defense Corpse, stole an M16 rifle and fired randomly at houses in the Nong Chang district of the central province of Uthai Thani. His 78 year old mother-in-law…

  • Thailand NewsThai tourism ministry to get 2 billion baht ‘booster shot’ | Thaiger

    Thai tourism ministry to get 2 billion baht ‘booster shot’

    The Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, yesterday revealed his department expects to get a 2 billion baht “booster shot budget” to push Thai tourism this year after complaining to the prime minister. Phiphat revealed he approached PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and asked for the extra cash after being ignored by the man in charge of allocating additional funds, the Director…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok aquarium owner faces backlash after hiring sexy mermaids to swim with his fish | Thaiger

    Bangkok aquarium owner faces backlash after hiring sexy mermaids to swim with his fish

    A newly-opened aquarium at Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok has been criticized by netizens after the shop owner hired some sexy models to swim in the tanks with the exotic fish. The aquarium fish shop, Arowana Mall, hired 20 sexy models for its grand opening event on Wednesday. Each model wore a bikini while two of the sexy girls climbed…

  • Crime NewsThai mother turns blind eye as daughter raped by stepfather | Thaiger

    Thai mother turns blind eye as daughter raped by stepfather

    An alleged pedophile offered the father of a 12 year old girl he raped 100,000 baht in cash to buy his silence. The father refused. The rapist was in fact the teenage girl’s 59 year old stepfather and lived with the child’s birth mother who ignored the abuse. The girl said her mother knew everything but asked her not to…

  • Chiang Mai NewsChiang Mai’s 1-month pledge to clear dead power cables | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai’s 1-month pledge to clear dead power cables

    Chiang Mai Municipality promises to remove all of the city’s dead wires and cables within a month. When they finish burying the new cables underground is another matter. Following residents’ complaints, the municipality began tidying power and communication lines around the Wang Sing Kham community yesterday while another project to transfer cables underground continued near Chiang Mai University. Since the…

  • Chiang Mai NewsNok Air to make Chiang Mai a new global destination hub | Thaiger

    Nok Air to make Chiang Mai a new global destination hub

    Nok Air announced it is turning Chaing Mai International Airport, in the northern province of Chaing Mai, into a new hub of domestic and global routes. The airline yesterday invited Chaing Mai Governor, Wuttiphum Julangkun, and the media to a press conference at Chiang Mai City Hall, at the Chang Phueak in the Mueng Chiang Mai District, to discuss the…

  • Bangkok NewsSeveral roads flooded as heavy rain hits Bangkok | Thaiger

    Several roads flooded as heavy rain hits Bangkok

    Bangkok suffered from heavy rainfall last night. Several communities and roads were swamped due to the high water levels, which reached more than 30 centimetres. The Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited several different flood areas last night to find solutions to prevent and solve future floods in the capital. At 1am today, the media reported that more than five roads…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE: Poisonous gas another cause of death in Bangkok sewer tragedy | Thaiger

    UPDATE: Poisonous gas another cause of death in Bangkok sewer tragedy

    UPDATE Another worker from the Bangkok sewer tragedy died in hospital this afternoon. Officials said the cause of death could be a combination of electrocution, a lack of air, and poisonous gas in the sewer. In total, three electrical workers died, 26 year old Thosapol Faksawat, 23 year old Warawut U-Nath, and 37 year old Direk Intarangsee who lost his…

  • South Thailand News18 passengers rescued after ferry explodes off South Thailand coast | Thaiger

    18 passengers rescued after ferry explodes off South Thailand coast

    Eighteen people were rescued after a ferry exploded on its way from Chumpon to Koh Tao today at about 2.30pm. All 18 passengers suffered injuries. The ferry, named Lom Phraya, caught fire about 4-5 kilometres off the coast of the Haad Sai Ree sub-district, Mueng district in Chumpon province in the south of Thailand. The rescue team reported on its…

  • Thailand NewsPlan underway to screen Thailand’s no-confidence vote | Thaiger

    Plan underway to screen Thailand’s no-confidence vote

    Four universities and four free TV channels in Thailand are working together to find a way to screen this week’s censure debate for the public. The idea is to give the nation’s citizens a vote on each cabinet member’s performance from 6pm on Friday, the last day of the censure motion. The vote result won’t be taken into account, but…

  • World NewsGovernment angry Thailand came last in ‘Land of Smiles’ poll | Thaiger

    Government angry Thailand came last in ‘Land of Smiles’ poll

    Thai and foreign netizens have been left stunned after seeing Thailand ranked at the bottom of a Land of Smiles poll conducted by Gallup Global Emotions 2022. The controversial poll even upset the Thai government who hit back, saying the topic wasn’t even included in the official survey report. Singaporean media platform, Southeast Asia Stats, posted a “Southeast Asian Country…

  • Northern Thailand NewsNew religious cult leader encourages followers to get drunk | Thaiger

    New religious cult leader encourages followers to get drunk

    Thai media visited the temple of a new religious cult in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham to interview its leader after a viral TikTok video revealed he encouraged followers to get drunk at the cult ceremony. A female TikTok user posted a video joining a ceremony with the cult in Maha Sarrakham. The video revealed participants wearing an all-white…