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 NewsSongkhla teacher denies mistreating student as motive for fatal shooting | Thaiger

    Songkhla teacher denies mistreating student as motive for fatal shooting

    A male teacher denied claims that he mistreated the younger sister of an 18 year old gunman in a fatal shooting at Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, on Wednesday, February 11. The teenage suspect, Khemmanan, also known as Khem, entered the school at about 4pm and held students and teachers hostage before opening the fire. The principal,…

  • Thailand News46 foreign extras arrested in Krabi for working without permits | Thaiger

    46 foreign extras arrested in Krabi for working without permits

    Police arrested 46 foreign extras yesterday, February 12, after discovering they were working without permits at an abandoned mine in Krabi province while filming a television series reportedly based in Dubai. Officers from the Krabi Provincial Employment Office, Mueang Krabi Police Station, Border Patrol Police, and Immigration Bureau conducted a joint raid at the mine in the Thab Prik sub-district…

  • Politics NewsECT rejects Chon Buri vote recount request, cites lack of corruption evidence | Thaiger

    ECT rejects Chon Buri vote recount request, cites lack of corruption evidence

    The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) formally rejected a request for a vote recount in Chon Buri’s District 1, stating there was no concrete evidence to support allegations of corruption. On February 9, a group of voters gathered at a badminton court in Chon Buri province, which had been used to store ballots from the District 1 polling station, after…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya hotel staff confronts foreign couple over sex near spirit house | Thaiger

    Pattaya hotel staff confronts foreign couple over sex near spirit house

    A foreign man allegedly assaulted a hotel employee in Pattaya who sprayed water over him and his girlfriend for engaging in sexual activity near a spirit house outside the property late at night. The incident came to light after a 41 year old Cambodian staff member at Dream Hotel Pattaya, Piatra, shared a video online exposing the couple’s behaviour. The…

  • Thailand NewsThai man arrested for firing shots at renowned late politician’s home | Thaiger

    Thai man arrested for firing shots at renowned late politician’s home

    A Thai man, believed to be under the influence of drug, was arrested after firing multiple gunshots into the air at the luxury residence of late politician Chonsawat Asavahame in Samut Prakan province. Officers from Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 10am today, February 10. The shooting took place at Chonsawat’s residence in the…

  • Pattaya NewsDrunk American man found injured outside Pattaya condominium | Thaiger

    Drunk American man found injured outside Pattaya condominium

    An injured American man collapsed outside a condominium in Pattaya, prompting rescue workers to rush him to hospital. The man was reportedly heavily intoxicated and unable to explain how he sustained his injuries. A security guard at a condominium in Soi Bongkot 8, located in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya, contacted rescuers from Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Foundation after discovering…

  • Thailand NewsUdon Thani woman loses car and 80000-baht amulet to online date | Thaiger

    Udon Thani woman loses car and 80000-baht amulet to online date

    A Thai woman lodged a police complaint after a man she met online stole her car and a valuable Buddha amulet worth more than 80,000 baht following an in-person meeting at a resort in Udon Thani province. The 50 year old victim, identified only as Bee, filed a complaint at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station yesterday, February 9. She accused…

  • Thailand NewsBig Joke’s wife wins defamation lawsuit over affair accusations | Thaiger

    Big Joke’s wife wins defamation lawsuit over affair accusations

    The Civil Court ordered a Thai woman to pay 8 million baht in compensation to the wife of former Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Surachate Hakparn, widely known as “Big Joke”, after ruling that she falsely accused the police officer’s wife of having an affair with her husband. The ruling was delivered yesterday, February 9, concluding a civil…

  • Thailand NewsIndonesian and Malaysian men arrested in Udon Thani car break-in theft | Thaiger

    Indonesian and Malaysian men arrested in Udon Thani car break-in theft

    Police in Udon Thani arrested an Indonesian man and a Malaysian man for breaking into a parked car and stealing cash and a gold accessory from a Thai woman, while a third foreign suspect remains at large. The victim, Napasorn, 48, filed a complaint with Mueang Udon Thani Police Station on February 3. She told officers that she withdrew 500,000…

  • Politics NewsChon Buri voters stage overnight protest and demand vote recount | Thaiger

    Chon Buri voters stage overnight protest and demand vote recount

    A group of voters in Chon Buri province staged an overnight protest at a polling station in District 1 after raising concerns over alleged election corruption, prompting calls for an immediate recount. The protest took place at the District 1 polling station, located inside a badminton court in the Bang Pa Soi sub-district of Mueang district, Chon Buri. A number…

  • Bangkok NewsFire damages 28 shops at Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Fire damages 28 shops at Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok

    A major fire broke out at Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok late last night, February 9, damaging at least 28 shops. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, while the total value of the losses has yet to be confirmed. According to ThaiRath, the fire was first reported at around 10.42pm near Gate 1 of the market…

  • Phuket NewsCalls for action after foreign motorcyclist confronts Phuket schoolgirl | Thaiger

    Calls for action after foreign motorcyclist confronts Phuket schoolgirl

    A viral video showing a foreign motorcyclist aggressively threatening a young Thai student and her guardian in the Patong area of Phuket sparked public criticism and demands for deportation. The video was shared on Facebook on Friday, February 6, by Jeerawut Wangnurak, who condemned the foreigner’s behaviour. In his caption, Jeerawut wrote… “Have you ever seen Thai people without smiles?…

  • Thailand NewsChinese man critically injured after mysterious fall from Chon Buri hotel | Thaiger

    Chinese man critically injured after mysterious fall from Chon Buri hotel

    A Chinese man sustained serious injuries after a mysterious fall from the fourth floor of a hotel in the Na Kluea area of Chon Buri province early yesterday morning, February 8, prompting an ongoing police investigation. Rescuers from Sawang Borriboon Dhammasatan Foundation were alerted to the incident at around 3am at a hotel in the Na Kluea area of Bang…

  • Pattaya NewsThai taxi rider exposes Russian man for defecating on Pattaya traffic island | Thaiger

    Thai taxi rider exposes Russian man for defecating on Pattaya traffic island

    A Thai app-based motorcycle taxi rider exposed a foreign tourist, believed to be a Russian national, for defecating on a traffic island in Pattaya. The unidentified rider shared footage of the incident on social media on Saturday, February 7. The video was later reposted by several Thai news agencies. In the footage, the rider is seen parked on the left-hand lane…

  • Koh Samui NewsFunds raised after British tourist critically injured in Koh Samui motorcycle crash | Thaiger

    Funds raised after British tourist critically injured in Koh Samui motorcycle crash

    The family of a British man launched a fundraising campaign after he was left in critical condition following a serious motorcycle accident on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani province, Thailand. The victim, Tiger Duggan, a 23 year old British national, travelled to Thailand with a friend to celebrate his birthday. According to his family, they arrived in the country…

  • Phuket NewsColombian man arrested over fatal shooting of Iraqi tourist in Phuket | Thaiger

    Colombian man arrested over fatal shooting of Iraqi tourist in Phuket

    Police arrested a Colombian national in connection with the fatal shooting of an Iraqi tourist in the Patong area of Phuket on Saturday, February 7. Officers confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody on Sunday, February 8, following an intensive manhunt led by Patong Police Station. The victim was identified as a 24 year old Iraqi man, Ameer Mundher Mahmood.…

  • Politics NewsAnutin declares unofficial victory as Bhumjaithai leads 2026 General Election | Thaiger

    Anutin declares unofficial victory as Bhumjaithai leads 2026 General Election

    Acting Prime Minister (PM), Anutin Charnvirakul, announced an unofficial victory for himself and the Bhumjaithai Party in the 2026 General Election last night, February 8, after the party secured the highest number of seats in Parliament based on a 94% vote count. The General Election was held nationwide yesterday. According to the latest update reported by TNN News this morning,…

  • Phuket NewsFrench nationals accused of staging theft to scam Thai woman | Thaiger

    French nationals accused of staging theft to scam Thai woman

    A Thai woman accused a group of foreigners, believed to be French nationals, of attempting to scam and swindle money from her older sister by falsely claiming she picked up their dropped cash on Phuket road. The woman shared CCTV footage of the incident on her Facebook account, Jedsy Jedsadaporn, on Wednesday, February 4. The incident took place outside her family’s…

  • Thailand NewsFinancial stress cited after Thai man fatally stabs his mother | Thaiger

    Financial stress cited after Thai man fatally stabs his mother

    A Thai man fatally attacked his mother at their shared home in Samut Prakan province yesterday, February 5. His stepfather believed the murder was triggered by financial stress and unemployment. The incident occurred yesterday at a house in the Bang Chak sub-district of Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan. The 44 year old victim, Nokkaew, was attacked by her 22 year…

  • Koh Samui NewsNorwegian man arrested for assault and car theft on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Norwegian man arrested for assault and car theft on Koh Samui

    Police on Koh Samui arrested a Norwegian man after the physical assault of a Thai driver, the theft of a pickup truck, and a high-speed chase across the island. Officers from Koh Samui Police Station were alerted to the incident after receiving reports of a physical assault and vehicle theft in the Mae Nam sub-district of Koh Samui. The incident…

  • Phuket NewsSwedish man arrested in Phuket over alleged rape of fellow tourist | Thaiger

    Swedish man arrested in Phuket over alleged rape of fellow tourist

    Police arrested a Swedish man at a hotel in Phuket for the alleged rape of a woman from the same country, following a complaint filed earlier this week. The arrest was confirmed on Wednesday, February 5, after officers from Patong Police Station tracked down the suspect at a hotel on Na Nai 8 Road in Kathu district, Phuket. The 32…

  • Thailand NewsThai TikToker claims followers can visit Mars and Japan through meditation | Thaiger

    Thai TikToker claims followers can visit Mars and Japan through meditation

    A Thai man sparked widespread online controversy after claiming he possesses supernatural abilities and trains children to perform spiritual practices for “out-of-body travel“. The man shared multiple videos on his TikTok account @ongdum, where he presented himself and his followers practising meditation techniques for out-of-body experiences. In each clip, he claimed participants were able to leave their physical bodies and…

  • Phuket NewsFilipina woman arrested at Phuket over theft and forged documents | Thaiger

    Filipina woman arrested at Phuket over theft and forged documents

    Police arrested a Filipina woman at the Phuket Immigration Office after discovering that she was wanted under an arrest warrant for theft and the use of forged documents while she was attempting to renew her visa. The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 3, when the woman visited the Phuket Immigration Office to apply for a visa renewal and extend her…

  • Thailand NewsConstruction site manager claims gun accident in worker’s death | Thaiger

    Construction site manager claims gun accident in worker’s death

    A construction site manager fatally shot a worker in Ubon Ratchathani and claimed the shooting was accidental, saying the gun discharged when he tried to slap the victim with the firearm. Officers from Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station were called to investigate the fatal shooting at a construction site on Tuesday, February 4, after receiving a report from workers at the…

  • Thailand NewsThai teen shoots neighbour dead over alleged affair with mother | Thaiger

    Thai teen shoots neighbour dead over alleged affair with mother

    A 17 year old Thai boy fatally shot his neighbour in Pathum Thani province, blaming the victim for having an affair with his mother and causing ongoing conflict within his family. Police from Thanyaburi Police Station were alerted to the shooting at around 1pm yesterday, February 4, by a local community leader, Thanee Suekui. The incident occurred in the Thanyaburi…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok taxi driver confesses to raping intoxicated passenger | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi driver confesses to raping intoxicated passenger

    A Thai taxi driver confessed to raping a female passenger, who was intoxicated and unable to defend herself, at a love hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday, February 3, saying, “I don’t know what an evil spirit possessed me that night”. The victim, a university student studying in Bangkok, filed a formal complaint with police after waking up naked inside a…

  • Thailand News15 year old boy arrested over 2.4 million baht gold theft in Hat Yai | Thaiger

    15 year old boy arrested over 2.4 million baht gold theft in Hat Yai

    Police arrested a 15 year old boy for a gold shop robbery at a supermarket in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, in which gold accessories worth more than 2.4 million baht were stolen. The robbery occurred at around 6.30pm inside a gold shop located within Lotus’s supermarket in Hat Yai. CCTV footage showed the suspect dressed entirely in black and…

  • Thailand NewsIsraeli and El Salvadoran men rescued from Koh Pha Ngan forest | Thaiger

    Israeli and El Salvadoran men rescued from Koh Pha Ngan forest

    Tourist Police officers, together with local administrative officials, successfully rescued two foreign tourists, Israeli and Salvadoran men, who became lost in a forest on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province last night, February 4. According to authorities, Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received an emergency call via the tourist police hotline 1155 from two foreign men who reported that…

  • Thailand NewsThai taxi driver wins hearts after sharing desserts with Australian tourists | Thaiger

    Thai taxi driver wins hearts after sharing desserts with Australian tourists

    An Australian couple shared a video of a friendly service from a Thai taxi driver, who warmly welcomed them despite a language barrier and treated them to traditional Thai desserts during their journey. The video was shared on January 9 via the couple’s TikTok account, TikTok user @whatamidoing.retired. In the caption, the couple wrote… “We met the kindest taxi driver,…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman says friend claims her baby to scam over 1 million baht | Thaiger

    Thai woman says friend claims her baby to scam over 1 million baht

    A Thai woman issued a public warning after her close friend claimed her baby as her own in order to swindle more than 1 million baht from her husband and his family. The victim shared her story on the television news programme Hone Krasae on Channel 3, saying she almost lost custody of her three month old child as a result…