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 NewsThai woman vanishes after travelling to Laos with American ex-husband | Thaiger

    Thai woman vanishes after travelling to Laos with American ex-husband

    A Thai-born American man becomes the main suspect in the disappearance of his Thai ex-wife after they travelled to Laos together. He denied any involvement and said he will only speak through a lawyer. The missing woman is 45 year old Thatsanee Saelee, a Thai national from the Hmong ethnic group. According to her son, Winyu, Thatsanee lost contact with him…

  • Thailand NewsThai singer breaks down on stage after father critically injured in car accident | Thaiger

    Thai singer breaks down on stage after father critically injured in car accident

    The father of a Thai singer is in critical condition after a pickup truck crashed into his motorcycle in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok yesterday, January 28. The singer later broke down in tears on stage, saying doctors had told her that her father has only a 10% chance of survival. Officers from Chaiyaphruek Police Station, emergency medical staff from Pak…

  • Phuket NewsPakistani man caught and beaten for stealing cannabis in Phuket | Thaiger

    Pakistani man caught and beaten for stealing cannabis in Phuket

    Cannabis shop owners and witnesses in Phuket chased after and assaulted a Pakistani man after he stole a jar of cannabis from a store in Patong before handing him over to police. A female cannabis shop owner filed a complaint with officers at Patong Police Station yesterday, January 28, after a group of tourists, reported to be Pakistani nationals, stole…

  • Crime NewsChinese man runs car over friend and kills him outside Pattaya hotel | Thaiger

    Chinese man runs car over friend and kills him outside Pattaya hotel

    A Chinese man called rescuers to help his friend after accidentally running his car over him outside a hotel in Pattaya, telling authorities that he did not see the victim. Rescuers from the Sawang Boriboon Dhammastan Rescue Foundation rushed to a hotel in the Jomtien area of Pattaya to assist the victim, a 40 year old Chinese man whose name…

  • Thailand NewsThai man escapes death after stray bullets hit pillow while sleeping | Thaiger

    Thai man escapes death after stray bullets hit pillow while sleeping

    A Thai man narrowly escaped injury after two stray bullets were fired into his home in Ayutthaya province and struck his pillow while he was sleeping on January 20. He later made the incident public after police failed to provide any update on the case. The victim, 31 year old Weerasak Wichitkarnpana, shared photos of the damage to his house…

  • Chiang Mai NewsSpanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash | Thaiger

    Spanish woman and Thai vendor critically injured in Chiang Mai car crash

    A Spanish woman and a Thai food vendor sustained serious injuries after a Grab driver crashed his electric car near the old city moat in Chiang Mai this morning, January 28. Locals who witnessed the accident at around 7.40am alerted officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station and rescue teams to assist the victims. The Spanish woman and a Thai…

  • Bangkok NewsPolice bust Thai-Vietnamese mule account gang during Bangkok meetup | Thaiger

    Police bust Thai-Vietnamese mule account gang during Bangkok meetup

    Police arrested a Vietnamese national and four Thai suspects in Bangkok on Monday, January 26, while they were meeting to purchase mule bank accounts for scam operations. Officers from Sutthisan Police Station received a tip-off that a criminal gang involving Thai and Vietnamese nationals was persuading people to sell their bank accounts. Police believed the accounts were being used for…

  • Thailand NewsSuspected drunk pickup driver kills father of two in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Suspected drunk pickup driver kills father of two in Chon Buri

    A pickup truck driver rammed into a motorcycle and killed the rider on a road within a residential community in Chon Buri on Saturday night, January 24. Witnesses suspect the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Dashcam footage from a parked vehicle captured the fatal crash in Soi Ban Kao 12 in the Panthong district. The footage shows a…

  • Koh Samui NewsDanish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Danish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui

    Police arrested a Danish man after he stole a safe containing land and property documents worth around 100 million baht from a luxury villa owned by a Chinese national on Koh Samui before fleeing to Krabi. The Chinese victim filed a complaint with Bor Phud Police Station after discovering that a safe was stolen from the luxury villa in Soi Khao…

  • Bangkok NewsSuvarnabhumi Airport denies attempted hijacking after old video sparks panic | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi Airport denies attempted hijacking after old video sparks panic

    Suvarnabhumi International Airport denied reports of an attempted aircraft hijacking after an old video was reposted on a Facebook page, prompting panic among the public. The airport announced plans to take legal action against the page administrator for spreading misleading information. The Facebook page ข่าวสดช่อง 8 (Channel 8 News) shared the video on Monday, January 26, with a caption stating,…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya tomboy exposes naked foreigner online after he ignores her warning | Thaiger

    Pattaya tomboy exposes naked foreigner online after he ignores her warning

    A Thai tomboy encountered a naked foreign man on a beach in Pattaya and asked him to put on his shorts, but he ignored her warning, prompting her to expose him on social media. The tomboy, Sureesri “Ant” Ruengsuksood, shared a video of the foreign man on her Facebook account on Monday, January 26. In the caption, Ant wrote… “He…

  • Phuket NewsTurkish motorcyclist killed in crash with two vans in Phuket | Thaiger

    Turkish motorcyclist killed in crash with two vans in Phuket

    A Turkish motorcyclist lost his life after colliding with two vans on Patak Road in Phuket in the early hours of today, January 28. Officers from Karon Police Station investigated the accident at the Le Meridien Hotel intersection on Patak Road in the Karon district at around 12.35am. Rescuers from Kusol Dham Phuket Foundation also rushed to the scene in…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman accuses monk of groping her during blessing ceremony | Thaiger

    Thai woman accuses monk of groping her during blessing ceremony

    A Thai woman accused a well-known monk at a temple in Pathum Thani province of sexually assaulting by grouping her breasts during a blessing ceremony for good fortune and business success. The allegation came to public attention after a Thai woman, identified only as Emmy, shared details of the sexual assault on social media. According to her post, the victim…

  • Bangkok NewsViral videos sparks prove into cat abuse at Bangkok cafe | Thaiger

    Viral videos sparks prove into cat abuse at Bangkok cafe

    Authorities launched an investigation after viral videos showed a man abusing cats at a cat café in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district, sparking widespread outrage among Thai netizens. Three videos showing the animal abuse were shared by an online user in the Facebook group of Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT). The man in the footage was initially believed to be the owner of…

  • Thailand NewsThai soldier shoots social media influencer’s brother in jealous rage | Thaiger

    Thai soldier shoots social media influencer’s brother in jealous rage

    A Thai soldier shot at the brother-in-law of a well-known female social media influencer in Udon Thani province over adultery accusation, prompting the influencer to make the matter public in a bid to seek justice and protect her family. The incident occurred on Sunday, January 25, and was later revealed by social media influencer Soraya “Aum” Upaiprom, also known online…

  • Thailand NewsNew Thai court platform allows direct requests to delete explicit content | Thaiger

    New Thai court platform allows direct requests to delete explicit content

    The Court of Justice of Thailand yesterday, January 26, launched a new online platform allowing the public to report explicit content and request its removal 24 hours a day, in response to recently revised sex crime laws. The Court of Justice spokesperson, Suriyan Hongwilai, announced that this marks the first time in Thailand that victims and people affected by cyber…

  • Thailand NewsChild set off firecrackers under bridge, causing 1 million baht in damage | Thaiger

    Child set off firecrackers under bridge, causing 1 million baht in damage

    Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is seeking around 1 million baht in compensation from the parents of a child after firecrackers were set off that damaged Bhumibol 2 Bridge. The fire broke out at a pier of the Bhumibol 2 Bridge in Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan, on the evening of January 15. The blaze spread to a drainage pipe and later…

  • Phuket News3 Frenchmen flee after attacking Phuket food vendor in parking row | Thaiger

    3 Frenchmen flee after attacking Phuket food vendor in parking row

    Three Frenchmen escaped after gang attacking a Thai food vendor in Phuket on Sunday, January 25, following a dispute over parking. The owner of a roadside food stall on Soi Na Nai 3 in the Patong sub-district shared CCTV footage of the incident with the news Facebook page Newshawk Phuket yesterday. The video shows a foreign man wearing a white…

  • Pattaya NewsAmerican man and 3 British nationals come to peace after Pattaya brawl | Thaiger

    American man and 3 British nationals come to peace after Pattaya brawl

    Three British men attacked an American man on Soi Buakhao in Pattaya before both parties eventually made peace and paid fine 1,000 baht each. A video of the incident circulated widely on Thai social media earlier this week. The footage shows three foreign men repeatedly kicking another foreign man wearing a red T-shirt, who was already injured and sitting on…

  • Thailand NewsTaiwanese and Thai tourists brawl at Chiang Rai’s White Temple | Thaiger

    Taiwanese and Thai tourists brawl at Chiang Rai’s White Temple

    Taiwanese and Thai tourists were involved in a physical altercation at Wat Rong Khun, commonly known as the White Temple, in Chiang Rai province last week following a dispute over photography regulations at the site. A video showing four tourists fighting on the temple’s well-known “Bridge of Rebirth” quickly went viral on Thai social media. The footage showed two couples…

  • Pattaya NewsMissing British man found dead in Bangkok hotel after donation appeal | Thaiger

    Missing British man found dead in Bangkok hotel after donation appeal

    Thai netizens raised suspicions about a British family’s donation campaign after they sought financial support to search for a missing relative in Pattaya, only to later announce that he was found dead at a hotel in Bangkok. A missing person poster for 21 year old British national Joshua Kershaw was widely shared across Facebook groups of expats and tourists in…

  • Bangkok News3 Thai children set homeless on fire and film incident as trophy | Thaiger

    3 Thai children set homeless on fire and film incident as trophy

    Three Thai attackers, aged between nine and 15, set a homeless man on fire by the roadside in the Prawet area of Bangkok and filmed the incident as a trophy. The victim was identified as 51 year old Karn, a homeless man who lives under the Ban Ma Bridge in Prawet. He makes a living by collecting and reselling recyclable…

  • Thailand NewsForeign man slammed for flying drone, scaring Khao Yai elephants | Thaiger

    Foreign man slammed for flying drone, scaring Khao Yai elephants

    Thai netizens condemned a foreign man for ignoring national park regulations and flying a drone near a herd of elephants in Khao Yai National Park, causing the animals to panic and putting both tourists and wildlife at risk. The incident occurred yesterday, January 21, at Tung Kwang Mineral Lick, a popular wildlife viewing area within the national park in Nakhon…

  • Pattaya NewsIranian man arrested for illegally running pharmacy in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Iranian man arrested for illegally running pharmacy in Pattaya

    Police arrested an Iranian man on Tuesday, January 20, for illegally operating a pharmacy in Pattaya and selling controlled drugs without permission or a pharmacist licence. Officers from Pattaya Tourist Police, Chon Buri Immigration Office, and Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office launched the operation after receiving complaints from locals, alleging that a foreign man was operating Kattika Pharmacy, located…

  • Thailand News13 foreigners arrested in romance scam crackdown in Nonthaburi | Thaiger

    13 foreigners arrested in romance scam crackdown in Nonthaburi

    Police arrested 13 foreigners at an accommodation building in Nonthaburi on Monday, January 19, for operating a romance scam network. The suspects included 11 Nigerian men and two Ivorian nationals. The crackdown was launched after a Thai woman filed a complaint with police late last year. She reported to Mueang Nong Khai Police Station that she had transferred more than…

  • Phuket NewsGerman thief arrested after trying to return stolen cash to Phuket spa | Thaiger

    German thief arrested after trying to return stolen cash to Phuket spa

    A German tourist attempted to return stolen cash to a spa in Phuket in an apparent bid to avoid legal consequences, but the spa owner refused to drop the case and called police to have him arrested yesterday, January 20. The incident took place at THAN Spa & Massage, located on Ranong Road in Phuket’s Talat Nuea sub-district. An employee…

  • Bangkok NewsUnverified ‘ladyboy declaration form’ of Bangkok hotel goes viral | Thaiger

    Unverified ‘ladyboy declaration form’ of Bangkok hotel goes viral

    Netizens are questioning the authenticity of a “ladyboy declaration form” allegedly used by a hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area after an image of the document went viral on social media. The image was shared yesterday, January 20, by the Facebook account Just Mike, quickly drawing attention from both Thai and foreign netizens, particularly those who have experience staying in Bangkok…

  • Thailand NewsFamily of 16 stranded in China after paying 700,000 baht to scam travel agency | Thaiger

    Family of 16 stranded in China after paying 700,000 baht to scam travel agency

    A family of 16 fell victim to a travel agency scam, paying 700,000 baht for a fully organised trip to Harbin, China, only to be left to arrange nearly every aspect of the journey themselves after arriving overseas. One of the victims, Chonchanok, shared details of the ordeal on her Facebook account on Saturday, January 17, explaining that she booked…

  • Thailand NewsRomance scam leaves Thai woman in debt while fake lover lives luxurious | Thaiger

    Romance scam leaves Thai woman in debt while fake lover lives luxurious

    A Thai woman lost around 800,000 baht to a man she met on a dating application, only to later discover that he married another woman and was living a luxurious lifestyle. The victim, identified only as Ploy, travelled from Khon Kaen to Nonthaburi to seek legal assistance from lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet in Bangkok after realising she was deceived. Ploy explained that…

  • Phuket NewsGerman man wanted for stealing 2,000 baht from Phuket spa | Thaiger

    German man wanted for stealing 2,000 baht from Phuket spa

    A foreign man, reportedly a German national, remains at large after stealing 2,000 baht in cash from a spa in Phuket yesterday, January 20. The theft occurred at around 5pm at a spa located on Ranong Road in the Talat Nuea sub-district. The suspect arrived with two companions, but was seen in the CCTV footage committing the crime alone. In…