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 NewsSpicy career change: Som tam seller turns full-time drug dealer

    Spicy career change: Som tam seller turns full-time drug dealer

    Police arrested an elderly woman at her home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani after she left her former career as a som tam seller to become a full-time drug dealer. The suspect said she found drug dealing easier and more lucrative than her previous job, despite her son’s recent arrest for the same crime. Kumphawapi Police Station’s official…

  • Thailand NewsThai man accused of covering up boyfriend’s murder in car accident

    Thai man accused of covering up boyfriend’s murder in car accident

    A Thai man’s family and friends in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum accused his boyfriend of killing him and staging a car accident to cover up the murder. Local news Facebook page Esor News 3 reported yesterday that a 25 year old Thai man named Mark mysteriously died on Tuesday, May 14, while returning home from his birthday party at…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman steals 560,000 baht from businessman in romance scam

    Thai woman steals 560,000 baht from businessman in romance scam

    A Thai woman confessed to working with a romance scam gang to defraud a Thai businessman of approximately 560,000 baht. The victim, 41 year old Nontaphan, reached out to non-profit organisation Saimai Survive on May 9 after losing 560,000 baht to the 26 year old Thai woman named Akira. He sought their help to track down the woman, who was…

  • Thailand NewsThai father surrenders after abducting and assaulting 7 year old son

    Thai father surrenders after abducting and assaulting 7 year old son

    A Thai man surrendered at Krathumbaen Police Station in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok after physically assaulting and abducting his seven year old son. The boy’s mother, a 34 year old Thai woman, sought help from a social media influencer, Guntouch “Gun” Phongpaiboonwet, and Krathumbaen Police Station officers yesterday, May 15. She explained that her ex-husband, 33 year old Naweesak…

  • Thailand NewsThai man shoots dead best friend over alleged affair with girlfriend

    Thai man shoots dead best friend over alleged affair with girlfriend

    A Thai man shot dead his best friend over an alleged affair with his teenage girlfriend. He immediately turned himself in at Bang Phli Police Station in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The 18 year old murderer, Phichate, yesterday, May 15, arrived at the police station with a gun in hand and confessed to murdering his 22 year old friend,…

  • Thailand NewsDead body with stab and gunshot wounds identified as Indian man

    Dead body with stab and gunshot wounds identified as Indian man

    Police successfully identified the nationality of a foreign man found dead in the southern province of Phang Nga as an Indian clothes seller. The identity of the murderer remains unknown. A Thai resident found the dead body of a foreign man on the side of Ban Na Road yesterday, May 15 and reported the discovery to Khok Kloi Police Station.…

  • Thailand NewsDurian diva: Thai woman sells durian in bikini, ignoring online drama

    Durian diva: Thai woman sells durian in bikini, ignoring online drama

    A Thai woman is creating a buzz on social media after posting videos and pictures of herself selling durian in a bikini on a roadside in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet. The sexy 22 year old durian vendor, Aranya, also known as Aum, sparked controversy on Thai social media two years ago for wearing a bikini while selling the…

  • Thailand NewsTrans-tussle: Video captures fight between Pattaya and Phuket transwomen (video)

    Trans-tussle: Video captures fight between Pattaya and Phuket transwomen (video)

    In a scene straight out of a Russ Meyer movie, a video recently went viral depicting a violent clash between a group of ladyboys in Soi Bangla, Phuket, and a squad of transwomen from Pattaya. Pictures and videos of the altercation were shared widely on Thai social media. In one video, a group of transgender women confront another transgender woman…

  • Thailand NewsThai diner food fight: Apology served amid delivery rider accusations

    Thai diner food fight: Apology served amid delivery rider accusations

    A Thai restaurant apologised after accusing food delivery riders of eating customers’ food before delivering it. Netizens believed the issue was made up to promote the restaurant. The restaurant, Monster by Tong, took to Facebook yesterday, May 14, alleging that a driver had consumed a portion of a customer’s grilled meat and rice, providing a picture as evidence. “Rider sneaks…

  • Thailand NewsResident finds lifeless body of foreign man in southern Thailand

    Resident finds lifeless body of foreign man in southern Thailand

    A resident today stumbled upon the lifeless body of an unidentified foreign man on a roadside in the Takua Thung district in the southern province of Phang Nga. Sub-District Chief Yutthanakorn Juanjenkit filed a complaint with officers at Khok Kloi Police Station after a local in the area discovered the dead body. The body was found on the side of…

  • Thailand NewsTragic birthday: Three year old girl killed by falling tree (video)

    Tragic birthday: Three year old girl killed by falling tree (video)

    A severe thunderstorm in the central province of Uthai Thani resulted in a tragic incident where a falling tree claimed the life of a three year old girl on her birthday. Rescuers and medical workers rushed to a house in the Thap Than district of Uthai Thani after being alerted to a fallen tree. A 62 year old Thai woman,…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok man gets mental health help after faeces-hurling habit

    Bangkok man gets mental health help after faeces-hurling habit

    A Thai man is finally receiving treatment for mental illness after throwing his faeces at neighbours’ houses in the Ratchada area of Bangkok for over two years. A Thai woman named Pha sought help from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after reporting the incidents to the man’s parents, Phahonyothin Police Station, and various government organisations, but was ignored. Pha recounted…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman assaults girlfriend, throws cat from Pattaya condo

    Thai woman assaults girlfriend, throws cat from Pattaya condo

    A Thai woman is taking legal action against her girlfriend, who physically assaulted her and killed her cat by throwing it from the 21st floor of a condominium in Pattaya yesterday. The story of Tara and her cat was shared via her friend’s Facebook account yesterday, May 14. The friend shared images of Tara cradling her motionless cat, Minjoo, as…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman suffers panic attack after Isaan rocket lands on lawn

    Thai woman suffers panic attack after Isaan rocket lands on lawn

    A Thai woman suffered from a panic attack after a missile from a rocket festival in the Isaan province of Roi Et landed on her front lawn. Her son demanded accountability from the relevant parties. Thai television host Thanasub Ounsuang is seeking justice for his family by sharing the rocket incident at his home in Roi Et on Facebook last…

  • Thailand NewsThai cult leader claims to cure all illnesses with pot ritual (video)

    Thai cult leader claims to cure all illnesses with pot ritual (video)

    A cult leader in the Isaan province of Buriram claims he can cure all illnesses by placing an aluminium cooking pot over patients’ heads. Despite the seemingly absurd nature of the treatment, both Thai and foreign followers have shared testimonials of successful outcomes on social media. The cult‘s Facebook page features videos of the Thai man, known as Ajarn Pu…

  • Thailand NewsMind the gap: Criticism mounts as authorities fail to rein in cult

    Mind the gap: Criticism mounts as authorities fail to rein in cult

    The National Office of Buddhism and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (M-Society) are facing criticism for not taking action against a mind connection cult led by an eight year old Thai boy and his parents. The Thai couple and their son, known as the Nice Mind Connection, are facing criticism for establishing a religious cult centred on…

  • Thailand NewsDrug-addicted monk arrested after petrol theft and car crash chaos

    Drug-addicted monk arrested after petrol theft and car crash chaos

    A drug-addicted Thai monk joined the illustrious list of monastic figures behaving disgracefully in Thailand when he was arrested yesterday for avoiding a 1,300 petrol station bill and crashing his car into a police motorcycle and a baht bus in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. A petrol station manager in Kantara Wichai district reported the petrol theft to Mueang…

  • Thailand News86 year old Thai man stabs friend to death for lack of respect

    86 year old Thai man stabs friend to death for lack of respect

    An 86 year old Thai man yesterday stabbed a 49 year old friend to death for a lack of respect after drinking alcohol together in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. Nong Han Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the 49 year old man, Anan Kongchang, at around 12.30pm yesterday, May 13. The incident occurred at a…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman arrested for acid and knife attack on cheating husband

    Thai woman arrested for acid and knife attack on cheating husband

    Special Service Division (SSD), also known as the Commando Police, yesterday arrested a Thai woman in the central province of Kanchanaburi for a life-threatening acid and knife attack on her cheating husband. ThaiRath reported that the 45 year old suspect, Somjit Subsiri, committed the crime on August 13 at a house in Bangkok. She and her husband engaged in a…

  • Thailand NewsThai chief insists viral sexual yoga video was not shot in Thailand (video)

    Thai chief insists viral sexual yoga video was not shot in Thailand (video)

    A district chief on Koh Pha Ngan island in the southern province of Surat Thani insisted that a viral video of sexual yoga on Thai social media took place in Bali, Indonesia, not in Thailand. The video, shared widely on social media yesterday, May 13, showed three foreign couples engaging in unusual explicit acts, initially claimed to have taken place…

  • Thailand NewsFare play: Taxi driver caught cashing in for party with entertainers

    Fare play: Taxi driver caught cashing in for party with entertainers

    Police today arrested a Thai taxi driver in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok for stealing more than 10,000 baht in cash from a passenger to spend on a party with some female entertainers. The 57 year old female passenger victim, Waleeporn, filed a theft complaint at Bang Kaew Police Station on May 10 after the taxi driver, later identified as…

  • Thailand NewsIsaan heartbreak: Thai man seeks justice after wife’s betrayal and brutal assault

    Isaan heartbreak: Thai man seeks justice after wife’s betrayal and brutal assault

    A Thai man in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani turned to a local news agency for justice, accusing his wife of cheating, swindling him out of more than 100,000 baht, and orchestrating a physical attack that left him with life-threatening injuries. The 32 year old man, whose identity remains undisclosed, shared his story with Esor News and Channel 3…

  • Thailand NewsRatchaburi locals labelled as threat to PM Srettha’s safety

    Ratchaburi locals labelled as threat to PM Srettha’s safety

    Five residents of Ratchaburi province are demanding answers after being officially labelled as threats to the safety of the Prime Minister of Thailand. One of the residents, Thanu Ngamyingyuad, informed Channel 3 that he and four others, including a community leader, were given official documents, stating that they posed a threat to Thai PM Srettha Thavisin’s safety. The documents were…

  • Thailand News4 Thai salads ranked among world’s top 100 by TasteAtlas

    4 Thai salads ranked among world’s top 100 by TasteAtlas

    Food guide platform TasteAtlas included four Thai dishes in its Top 100 Salads in the World ranking TasteAtlas released the world’s top salads on May 6, and Thai food again made the list with som tam, som tam khai khem, phla kung, and yum woon sen. Two som tam types secured the 11th and 19th spots on the list, though…

  • Thailand NewsThai man arrested for distributing crystal meth at 7-Eleven stores

    Thai man arrested for distributing crystal meth at 7-Eleven stores

    Police arrested a Thai man yesterday for distributing crystal meth at various 7-Eleven convenience stores along King Kaew Road in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. A witness filed a complaint with Bang Kaew Police Station after he suspected a middle-aged Thai man, aged about 180 centimetres tall, was a drug dealer. Police later identified the suspect as 39 year old…

  • Thailand NewsPhotos of dead person used as weapon in two-decade land dispute

    Photos of dead person used as weapon in two-decade land dispute

    A family in Chanthaburi province is seeking help after their neighbours resorted to hanging photos of a dead family member as a threat due to an ongoing land dispute that spans two decades. A Thai woman took to Facebook to share news about a land conflict between her family and neighbours to seek advice from netizens. The woman reported a…

  • Thailand NewsMuay Thai might: Burmese brawlers flee Chiang Mai showdown

    Muay Thai might: Burmese brawlers flee Chiang Mai showdown

    Seven men, believed to be Burmese nationals, picked a fight with four Thai men at a popular attraction in Chiang Mai. However, they quickly apologised and ran away when they discovered two of the victims were Muay Thai boxers. Muay Thai boxer and trainer, 34 year old Prawit “Ter” Petboribundee, shared a video and photos of the incident on Facebook,…

  • Thailand NewsBritish man nabbed for souring Phuket eatery’s reputation

    British man nabbed for souring Phuket eatery’s reputation

    Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a British man for allegedly defaming an Italian restaurant in Phuket with negative reviews on Google after a two-year long conflict with the restaurant owner. The restaurant owner filed a complaint with the Sakhu Police Station officers after noticing a sudden drop in their Google Maps rating, from 4.9 stars to 3.1…

  • Thailand NewsForeigner narrowly escapes death after Pattaya bus hits him (video)

    Foreigner narrowly escapes death after Pattaya bus hits him (video)

    A reckless coach bus driver fled the scene after hitting a foreign cyclist riding along Pattaya Sai 2 Road on May 8. The foreign man was left prostrate on the road with a severe wound to his right arm. A Facebook user, Prak Pheaktra, shared a video of the incident today, May 10, with a caption that read, “Foreigner was…

  • Thailand NewsParking the problem: Thai national parks close to revive coral reefs

    Parking the problem: Thai national parks close to revive coral reefs

    The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) implemented indefinite closures at marine attractions in 12 national parks in Thailand to allow coral reefs to recover from bleaching. DNP Director Auttaphon Jaroenchansa told the media yesterday, May 9, that the director in each national park closely monitors the coral bleaching situation to determine the cause and identify recovery…