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 NewsFoul play dismissed as Thai drink driving suspect dies in custody | Thaiger

    Foul play dismissed as Thai drink driving suspect dies in custody

    A Thai man died under mysterious circumstances yesterday while in detention at Chaiyaphruek Police Station in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok after being arrested for drink driving. The deceased’s wife, Tippawan, visited the police station yesterday, November 11, to demand a further investigation into the death of her husband, 57 year old Thongsai. Tippawan said she lost contact with her husband…

  • Thailand NewsWee problem: Passenger takes pee on Bangkok bike ride, refuses to pay fare | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 NewsFamous Thai fortune teller arrested for 100 million baht fraud | Thaiger

    Famous Thai fortune teller arrested for 100 million baht fraud

    Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested a well-known fortune teller at his home in Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok, today, for allegedly committing fraud resulting in damages exceeding 100 million baht. The first two victims to come forward and expose the fraudulent activities of the fortune teller, 43 year old Thanawan “Odd” Jiracharoenwet, were his 77 year old client and…

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

    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) | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 NewsNo time to lose: Mexican tourist returns pricey watch after Bangkok airport mix-up | Thaiger

    No time to lose: Mexican tourist returns pricey watch after Bangkok airport mix-up

    A Mexican woman on holiday with her family in Phuket agreed to return a luxury watch worth about 200,000 baht to a Thai woman, stating that she thought it belonged to a family member and mistakenly took it from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. A 21 year old Thai woman, Rachawalee, filed a complaint with Don Mueang Police Station…

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

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 NewsThai pervert harasses schoolgirl, pretends to trip to kiss victim (video) | Thaiger

    Thai pervert harasses schoolgirl, pretends to trip to kiss victim (video)

    Schoolgirls in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat become the target of a perverted man who pretended to trip and sway to kiss a schoolgirl yesterday, November 7. The male Facebook user, Thanakorn Suthin, shared details of the sexual assault on the Facebook group || ประเทศคอน || (meaning Nakhon country) yesterday, including a video and a picture of the…

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

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thailand NewsGolden gesture: Laotian thief returns bling, claims ‘gift’ mix-up | Thaiger

    Golden gesture: Laotian thief returns bling, claims ‘gift’ mix-up

    A Laotian man, accused of stealing a gold necklace, returned the stolen item to its rightful owner in Chon Buri, claiming that he took it home because he believed it was a gift from the gold shop. The 27 year old victim, Butsarin Sirimongkhonsub, filed a complaint with officers at Nong Prue Police Station on November 7 and also contacted…

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

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 NewsJapanese influencer dies after motorcycle accident in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Japanese influencer dies after motorcycle accident in Bangkok

    A Japanese influencer, also popular among South Korean netizens, died on October 31 after sustaining serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in Bangkok in September. The younger brother of the 30 year old influencer, Satomi Yamanishi, better known as Satton, used her Instagram account last month to share news of the accident and Satton’s condition. “She was in a motorcycle…

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

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thailand NewsJealous Thai man kills mistress and commits suicide in Rayong | Thaiger

    Jealous Thai man kills mistress and commits suicide in Rayong

    A Thai man killed his mistress and then committed suicide out of jealousy at a house in the Pluak Daeng district in the eastern province of Rayong. Their bodies were discovered on Tuesday, November 5. Officers from Pluak Daeng Police Station investigated the deaths of a 32 year old Thai man named Rath and a 30 year old Thai woman…

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

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 NewsLaotian mother appeals for hearing aids for blue-eyed twins with rare condition | Thaiger

    Laotian mother appeals for hearing aids for blue-eyed twins with rare condition

    A Laotian mother in the Isaan province of Nakhon Phanom is seeking public support for hearing aids for her twin daughters, who are hearing and speech impaired and have blue eyes due to Waardenburg syndrome. The two girls with bright blue eyes went viral on social media after a Facebook user, Wachi Wachi, shared their pictures on Monday, November 4.…

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

    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…