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 NewsWee problem: Passenger takes pee on Bangkok bike ride, refuses to pay fare

    Wee problem: Passenger takes pee on Bangkok bike ride, refuses to pay fare

    A Thai app-based motorcycle rider took to social media to expose the shocking behaviour of a passenger who urinated during a ride in Bangkok and refused to pay the fare. The 32 year old app-based rider, Korn, shared a video of his passenger on a Facebook news page to warn other motorcycle taxi riders to avoid offering service to this…

  • Thailand NewsMentally ill woman in Pattaya denies coffin cart theft

    Mentally ill woman in Pattaya denies coffin cart theft

    Monks and workers at Bun Kanchanaram Temple in Pattaya caught a mentally ill Thai woman taking a coffin cart to use as a clothes hanger at home. She claimed she did not steal it and simply “requested to borrow it in her mind.” Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were called to the temple to apprehend the woman, identified only…

  • Thailand News4 foreign suspects arrested for extorting 250,000 USDT from Ukrainian man

    4 foreign suspects arrested for extorting 250,000 USDT from Ukrainian man

    Phuket police officers today arrested four foreign suspects who allegedly extorted 250,000 USDT (8.5 million baht) from a Ukrainian victim at a hotel in Phang Nga province. The 23 year old Ukrainian man, Viacheslav Leibove, filed a theft complaint with Kamala Police Station in Phuket on Saturday, November 9, claiming he lost cryptocurrency to four foreign thieves. The suspects are…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman and boyfriend suspected in murder of Pathum Thani official

    Thai woman and boyfriend suspected in murder of Pathum Thani official

    Police suspect a Thai woman and her boyfriend in the murder of the woman’s older sister, who was a sub-district secretary in the central province of Pathum Thani. The 57 year old deputy secretary of the Khlong Sam Sub-district Office, Worrakanok Thepphimon, was found dead in her home on Saturday, November 9. She had a deep cut wound to her…

  • Thailand NewsThai drama series faces backlash after cat anaesthetised on set (video)

    Thai drama series faces backlash after cat anaesthetised on set (video)

    The Department of Livestock Development planned to summon the director and production team of the Thai historical drama series The Empress of Ayodhaya, also known as Mae Yhua, for questioning due to criticism over animal abuse after a black cat was anaesthetised during the production. The Empress of Ayodhaya is a period drama inspired by the Queen of Ayodhaya, Sri…

  • Thailand News6 Thai inmates stab prisoner to death in Bangkok prison (video)

    6 Thai inmates stab prisoner to death in Bangkok prison (video)

    Six Thai prisoners at Minburi Remand Prison in Bangkok assaulted and stabbed a fellow inmate to death with a sharpened iron rod and spoon for exposing their involvement in a drug case. Officers from Min Buri Police Station reported to the media that the stabbing occurred near the prison welfare shop in the fifth control area. The male prisoner, Yutthakarn,…

  • Thailand NewsLifeless body of Indian man found after Koh Samui waterfall stumble

    Lifeless body of Indian man found after Koh Samui waterfall stumble

    Thai officials discovered the body of a 29 year old Indian man yesterday after he accidentally fell from the cliff at Na Mueang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Over 30 officials from Koh Samui Police Station, rescue teams, the local administrative office, and the Royal Forest Department participated in the search…

  • Thailand NewsChinese call centre scam leader surrenders after 7 months in hiding

    Chinese call centre scam leader surrenders after 7 months in hiding

    A leading Chinese member of a call centre scam gang in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat surrendered to Thai police after seven months in hiding. The 33 year old Chinese man, Jiang Zhaitian, reached out to the Thai police via his lawyer, expressing his intent to turn himself in. Jiang was subsequently taken to the Cyber Crime Investigation…

  • Thailand News4 foreigners rob Ukrainian man of 250,000 USDT in Phuket hotel

    4 foreigners rob Ukrainian man of 250,000 USDT in Phuket hotel

    Four foreign suspects robbed a Ukrainian man of 250,000 USDT, approximately 8.5 million baht, at a hotel in the Kamala neighbourhood of Phuket on Friday evening. The 23 year old victim, Viacheslav Leibove, filed a complaint with Kamala Police Station on Saturday, November 9, reporting that he was robbed by four foreigners the previous night, November 8. The incident occurred…

  • Thailand NewsThailand crowned 2025 Destination of the Year by Travel + Leisure

    Thailand crowned 2025 Destination of the Year by Travel + Leisure

    New York City-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure has recognised Thailand as the 2025 Destination of the Year. The editor-in-chief shared her love for Thailand and highlighted the charm that drew her to this enchanting country. This marks the tenth consecutive year that Travel + Leisure announced its Destination of the Year, recognising a country that travellers simply must visit…

  • Thailand NewsThai man forces teen to rob temple for money to bail out wife

    Thai man forces teen to rob temple for money to bail out wife

    A Thai man in the central province of Suphan Buri threatened a 15 year old boy with a knife, forcing him to rob a temple to secure money to bail his wife out of jail. Officers from Mueang Suphan Buri Police Station arrested the Thai suspect, identified only as Beer, near the provincial court today, November 8. Police seized a…

  • Thailand NewsThe Entertainers: Thaiger editor’s new book is a Kevin Keegan page turner (video)

    The Entertainers: Thaiger editor’s new book is a Kevin Keegan page turner (video)

    After a seven-year hiatus from the publishing world, Thaiger Editor-in-Chief Will Scott has made a successful return with his latest literary creation, The Entertainers 1992-1997: Kevin Keegan’s Legacy. The book delves into one of the most iconic periods in Newcastle United’s modern history, shining a light on the unforgettable years when the Magpies soared under the charismatic leadership of Kevin…

  • Thailand NewsButcher saves Thai boy’s 130km sidecar dash to see mum (video)

    Butcher saves Thai boy’s 130km sidecar dash to see mum (video)

    A Thai butcher rescued a 10 year old boy who secretly rode his grandmother’s sidecar motorcycle in an attempt to travel 130 kilometres to see his mother in the Isaan province of Buriram. The butcher, whose shop is located on the roadside in the Sam Paniang sub-district in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima, sought help from the sub-district officials…

  • Bangkok NewsThai woman arrested in Bangkok for pimping out girls aged 14-16

    Thai woman arrested in Bangkok for pimping out girls aged 14-16

    Police arrested a 25 year old Thai woman at a Bangkok hotel for operating a prostitution ring and pimping out three girls aged between 14 and 16. Officers from the Children and Women Protection Sub-division received a tip-off that girls under 18 were being sent to work as party entertainers. In addition to entertaining clients, they were also forced to…

  • Thailand NewsAxe to grind: Thai father attacks son after suffering years of abuse

    Axe to grind: Thai father attacks son after suffering years of abuse

    A Thai father snapped and attacked his son with an axe in a fit of rage at midnight today after he and his wife suffered years of physical abuse at the hands of the son in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. Officers from Manchakhiri Police Station received a report of a serious assault at a house in the Manchakhiri…

  • Bangkok NewsNaked truth: Bangkok women seek help from sexual harassment

    Naked truth: Bangkok women seek help from sexual harassment

    Two Thai women are appealing for help after enduring sexual harassment from a neighbour in their Bangkok apartment building. The neighbour frequently strips naked, roams the hallway, knocks on doors indiscriminately, and sends letters containing explicit messages. The women, 32 year old Aum and 66 year old Bee, turned to social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet for help. Yesterday, November…

  • Crime NewsFamous Thai lawyer arrested on fraud, money laundering charges

    Famous Thai lawyer arrested on fraud, money laundering charges

    Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) swooped yesterday and arrested a prominent Thai lawyer and his wife on charges of fraud and money laundering, in the wake of the sensational case involving 71 million baht and a Thai millionaire in France. The Thai millionaire, who normally resides in France, Jatuporn “Madam Oi” Ubonlert, returned to Thailand to file a…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket transwomen clash with foreigner over alleged cash dispute

    Phuket transwomen clash with foreigner over alleged cash dispute

    Another clash between a group of Thai transwomen and a foreign man was reported on Tuesday in the Patong area of Phuket. The motive for the incident remains unknown. The Phuket Times shared a video of the physical altercation between the transgender group and the foreigner yesterday, November 6. The page captioned the video, “Again! Patong. Ladyboys gang attacked a…

  • Thailand NewsVictims of Thai fortune teller rise to 25, losses exceed 82 million baht

    Victims of Thai fortune teller rise to 25, losses exceed 82 million baht

    The number of victims of a famous Thai fortune teller rose to 25, with their losses now reaching 82 million baht, yet the fortune teller continues to deny the allegations. The fraudulent behaviour of the renowned fortune teller, Thanawan “Odd” Jiracharoenwet, also known as Ti Li Feng Shui, came to light after a 77 year old victim and her daughter…

  • Thailand NewsHoly scandal: Love affair prompts calls for temple’s open account-ability

    Holy scandal: Love affair prompts calls for temple’s open account-ability

    Thai Buddhists and netizens demanded that a temple in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham disclose its financial transactions to the public after the revelation of a romantic relationship between the deputy abbot and a woman. The romantic scandal between the deputy abbot of Wang Nam Yen Temple, Tinnaphon Chayaphu, and his girlfriend, identified only as Weeratha, was exposed by…

  • Thailand NewsTangmo’s death: 4 suspects stand firm in innocence ahead of verdict

    Tangmo’s death: 4 suspects stand firm in innocence ahead of verdict

    Four suspects in the death of renowned Thai actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong visited Nonthaburi Provincial Court today, November 7, to plead their innocence for the last time before the court delivers its verdict. The lifeless body of the famous Thai actress, Tangmo, was found on February 26, 2022, at Phibun Songkhram Pier along the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi province…

  • Thailand NewsLove scam: Thai man loses 5,000 baht and motorcycle to boyfriend

    Love scam: Thai man loses 5,000 baht and motorcycle to boyfriend

    A Thai man in the central province of Lop Buri lost 5,000 baht in cash and a motorcycle to his boyfriend, whom he had been dating for three months. The 30 year old victim named Sun filed a complaint against his 22 year old boyfriend, Golf, at Mueang Lop Buri Police Station on October 31 and revealed the full story…

  • Bangkok NewsRansom and dung: Kidnapped Japanese man’s faeces ordeal stinks in Bangkok

    Ransom and dung: Kidnapped Japanese man’s faeces ordeal stinks in Bangkok

    A Japanese victim sought help from the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) after one Thai man and two Japanese men kidnapped him, forced him to eat faeces, and demanded 300,000 baht ransom from him. The Japanese victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, filed a complaint against the two Japanese suspects and the Thai man at Chok Chai Police…

  • Koh Samui NewsLocals reel in Thai man stranded at sea for 2-hours near Koh Samui (video)

    Locals reel in Thai man stranded at sea for 2-hours near Koh Samui (video)

    Locals on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, came to the aid of a Thai man who accidentally fell into the sea yesterday and was stranded, treading water for two hours. Samui Association Rescue Volunteers were alerted by locals at around 9am yesterday, November 6, that the Thai man, later identified as 34 year old Sanadate,…

  • Bangkok NewsVIP chauffeur punches security guard in parking dispute at Bangkok airport (video)

    VIP chauffeur punches security guard in parking dispute at Bangkok airport (video)

    A chauffeur for a VIP foreign passenger punched a security guard at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok yesterday following an argument over parking at the entrance to the passenger terminal. The 47 year old security team leader, Sergeant Thanakrit, filed a complaint against the assailant, 41 year old Worravit, at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station after the incident, which occurred…

  • Thailand NewsThai man bites transgender girlfriend’s cheek but love heals the wound

    Thai man bites transgender girlfriend’s cheek but love heals the wound

    A Thai man in the Isaan province of Udon Thani apologised to his transgender girlfriend after he bit her cheek, causing it to bleed, following an accusation of theft. The transgender woman forgave him. A patrol officer from the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received a report about a violent altercation between the couple, which was occurring in a community…

  • Thailand NewsHome invasion averted: Thai woman dodges ‘Yaba-dabbler’s’ entry attempt

    Home invasion averted: Thai woman dodges ‘Yaba-dabbler’s’ entry attempt

    A Thai woman narrowly escaped danger after a drug-addicted man attempted to enter her home in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. Police found 19 methamphetamine pills, also known as Yaba, in his possession. The female victim shared videos of the incident on the news Facebook page, เจ๊มอย v+ (Jmoi v+). The videos showed officers from the Phayakkhaphum Phisai Police…

  • Thailand NewsThai piano teacher accuses renowned lawyer of attempted rape

    Thai piano teacher accuses renowned lawyer of attempted rape

    A Thai piano teacher accused renowned lawyer Sittha Biabangkerd of attempted rape, sharing CCTV footage of the alleged incident with news outlets. Sittha’s name will be familiar to many as he was recently accused by Thai millionaire Jatuporn “Madam Oi” Ubonlert of swindling her out of 71 million baht. She claimed that Sittha deceived her into investing in an online…

  • Bangkok NewsBritish and Dutch men arrested in Bangkok for drug trafficking

    British and Dutch men arrested in Bangkok for drug trafficking

    Officers from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) arrested a British man and a Dutch man at a condominium in Bangkok yesterday for drug trafficking. They were found in possession of 210 grammes of ecstasy and over 37 grammes of cannabis. The ONCB officers held a press conference today, November 6, to provide details on the arrests of…

  • Thailand NewsThai monk denies sex with woman, claims she helped him count bottles

    Thai monk denies sex with woman, claims she helped him count bottles

    A 70 year old Thai monk denied an allegation of sexual activity with a woman at a temple in the Isaan province of Buriram, claiming the woman helped him count water bottles. A 53 year old man, named Preecha, told Channel 3 that he suspected the 70 year old monk, Boonsong, of having sexual relations with multiple women. He said…