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 NewsTeacher’s husband runs pickup over schoolboy, leaving child in critical condition | Thaiger

    Teacher’s husband runs pickup over schoolboy, leaving child in critical condition

    The husband of a teacher in Udon Thani province ran over a 12 year old schoolboy in his pickup truck, leaving the boy with broken bones and a critical condition. The victim was reportedly waiting for his parents at the time of the incident. The boy’s parents shared details of the incident with Channel 7, as the parents were concerned…

  • Thailand NewsPolice accused of embezzlement during gambling raid in Nakhon Si Thammarat | Thaiger

    Police accused of embezzlement during gambling raid in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Gamblers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat accused police officers of taking 50,000 baht in cash, which should have been presented as evidence in a criminal case. A member of the Thung Song District Office, Chanin Jaidee, shared details of the alleged corruption with Channel 8 in the hope of seeking justice for gamblers arrested on August 13.…

  • Thailand NewsThai man surrenders after fatally shooting alleged lover of friend’s girlfriend | Thaiger

    Thai man surrenders after fatally shooting alleged lover of friend’s girlfriend

    A Thai man fatally shot an alleged lover of his friend’s girlfriend on the roadside in the southern province of Trang on Sunday, August 17, claiming he was taking revenge on behalf of his friend. The fatal attack occured as the victim was with her boyfriend, 24 year old Jiramate was along the Trang–Phatthalung Road in Mueang Trang district. She immediately called…

  • Thailand NewsSurin woman attacks son-in-law with knife for allegedly making sexual advances | Thaiger

    Surin woman attacks son-in-law with knife for allegedly making sexual advances

    A Thai woman in the Isaan province of Surin attacked her son-in-law with a knife after he allegedly made sexual advances towards her while intoxicated. A local rescue team was called to a house in the Sri Narong district of Surin on Sunday, August 17, to provide first aid to a Thai man and transfer him to the hospital. The man,…

  • Thailand NewsFather urges army to uncover real motive behind soldier’s fatal rampage | Thaiger

    Father urges army to uncover real motive behind soldier’s fatal rampage

    The father of a Thai soldier who shot two civilians before taking his own life in Surin province dismissed an emotional breakdown as the motive for the shooting and urged the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to conduct a further investigation. Private Ratthapoom Thepsiri was found dead in a forest in Kap Choeng district on August 15, after he shot two men…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket woman warns community after alleged theft by foreign man | Thaiger

    Phuket woman warns community after alleged theft by foreign man

    A Thai woman accused a foreign man, believed to be a British national, of stealing her mobile phone and attempting to steal her car in the Thalang district of Phuket yesterday, August 18. The woman, Mewadi Dokmai, issued a warning about the man by sharing her story on several Facebook groups and through local news outlets. She said the incident…

  • Thailand NewsSAO wins transparency award despite collapsed building scandal | Thaiger

    SAO wins transparency award despite collapsed building scandal

    The State Audit Office (SAO) won first place as the most transparent and integrous government department in Thailand, but the public expressed disagreement, citing allegations of corruption linked to the collapse of the under-construction headquarters in March. The Office of Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA), under the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), announced the results of its annual evaluation of government…

  • Thailand NewsStray dog in Songkhla melts hearts begging for toy from claw machine | Thaiger

    Stray dog in Songkhla melts hearts begging for toy from claw machine

    A stray dog in the southern province of Songkhla has gone viral on Thai TikTok after being filmed begging for a toy from a claw machine. The TikToker who captured the moment was praised by netizens for giving the dog his first-ever toy. The videos were shared by 23 year old Kannika “View” Eabsamrong, on her TikTok account, @i.view12, on…

  • Phuket NewsForeigners filmed chasing and beating Thai man in Phuket | Thaiger

    Foreigners filmed chasing and beating Thai man in Phuket

    Another viral video circulated on Thai social media yesterday, August 17, showing a group of foreigners attacking a Thai man outside a restaurant in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported, “Phuket, again! A swaggering gang of foreigners beat up a Thai national until the victim had to hide under a table. They then chased after…

  • Phuket NewsThai flying trainer dies after Phuket glider crash with Russian student | Thaiger

    Thai flying trainer dies after Phuket glider crash with Russian student

    A Thai flying trainer died in hospital today, August 18, after he and his Russian student crashed a glider on the side of a road in the Thalang district of Phuket yesterday, August 17. The accident occurred at around 4.30pm along the Mueang Mai–Paklok Road near Phuket Airpark in the Paklok sub-district. Two people were injured, 40 year old Thai…

  • Thailand NewsThai cancer patient faces scrutiny over 1.6 million baht donation | Thaiger

    Thai cancer patient faces scrutiny over 1.6 million baht donation

    The public demanded that a female cancer patient clarify her treatment costs after she launched a donation campaign and raised 1.6 million baht, yet only around 587,000 baht appeared to remain in her bank account. A Thai woman, identified only as Bew, took to her Facebook account, CarBew Donlaya, to share with her followers that she is battling stage three…

  • Thailand NewsDutch man and Thai wife recount escape from border clashes to ambassador | Thaiger

    Dutch man and Thai wife recount escape from border clashes to ambassador

    A Dutch man, who has a Thai wife, recounted the moment when he and his family escaped border clashes and claimed Cambodia initiated the violent attack during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Netherlands. Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiamphongsa and Royal Thai Army Spokesperson Winthai Suwaree led ambassadors and representatives from 33 countries and international organisations to survey…

  • Pattaya NewsThai woman dies after collision with British motorcyclist in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Thai woman dies after collision with British motorcyclist in Pattaya

    A Thai woman tragically died in hospital in Pattaya after a British man crashed his electric off-road motorcycle into her motorbike on Thursday, August 14. The accident occurred in Soi Bonkot 8 in Bang Lamung district at around 11pm on Thursday. The British national, whose name has not been released, reportedly collided with the motorbike of 49 year old Churairat…

  • Aviation NewsThai trainer and Russian student injured in plane crash in Phuket | Thaiger

    Thai trainer and Russian student injured in plane crash in Phuket

    A small plane crashed into roadside woodland in the Paklok sub-district of Phuket yesterday, August 17, leaving two men injured, a Thai trainer and a Russian flying student. The plane, reportedly belonging to a private company, went down beside a road near a runway at around 4.30pm. The victims were identified as 40 year old Thai trainer Surasak Chana and…

  • Thailand NewsThai-born American man dies in accident after being lured by Meta AI chatbot | Thaiger

    Thai-born American man dies in accident after being lured by Meta AI chatbot

    A 76 year old Thai-born American man died following an accident after being lured to a meeting arranged by a Meta artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on Facebook, which he believed was a real woman. According to a Reuters report, the incident took place in March this year when Thongbue Wongbandue, who suffered from brain impairment due to paralysis, packed up…

  • Thailand News3 teenagers arrested for burning disabled dog in Lampang temple | Thaiger

    3 teenagers arrested for burning disabled dog in Lampang temple

    Police arrested three Thai teenagers for burning a disabled dog alive in a temple bathroom in the northern province of Lampang. Locals in the Ko Kha district of Lampang reported the cruel act by the 14 year old suspects to the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) yesterday, August 14. The incident had occurred the previous week in the abandoned bathroom of…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket district chief addresses viral altercation over rental motorcycle dispute | Thaiger

    Phuket district chief addresses viral altercation over rental motorcycle dispute

    A district chief in Phuket clarified details about a physical altercation involving nearly 20 foreigners and two Thai men in a dispute over a rental motorcycle, promising to ensure justice for both parties. Kathu District Chief Akkaraphon Sutthirak, yesterday, August 14, addressed the viral incident between a group of foreigners and two Thai men, one of whom was the owner of…

  • Thailand NewsThai man’s calm response to snack theft goes viral on TikTok | Thaiger

    Thai man’s calm response to snack theft goes viral on TikTok

    A Thai grocery store owner shared a video on TikTok showing her husband watching a Burmese thief stealing snacks from their store in the central province of Pathum Thani, delighting Thai netizens. The store owner, Sumalee Wongintawang, posted the video of her husband on her TikTok account, @su.pananchita995, on Tuesday, August 12, with the caption… “#GoodHusbandIsNewHusband #ThisIsMyHusbandLol”. The caption was…

  • Thailand NewsThai soldier allegedly commits suicide after shooting 2 civilians in Surin | Thaiger

    Thai soldier allegedly commits suicide after shooting 2 civilians in Surin

    A Thai soldier in the Isaan province of Surin allegedly took his own life after shooting two civilians with an M16 rifle last night. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) reported this morning, August 15, that the gunfire broke out near Ban Khuean Kaeo Temple at around 12.45am. Ten shots were initially fired, followed by two more shots nine minutes later.…

  • Pattaya NewsBritish motorcyclist attacked after wheelie crash injures Thai woman | Thaiger

    British motorcyclist attacked after wheelie crash injures Thai woman

    A British man last night, August 14, performed wheelies along a road in Pattaya before crashing into the motorcycle of a Thai woman, leaving her in a serious condition. The foreign suspect was reportedly attacked by angry locals after the collision. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Thammasathan Foundation were alerted to the accident at around 11pm. The incident occurred in…

  • Thailand NewsThief in delivery uniform escapes with over 8 million baht in gold | Thaiger

    Thief in delivery uniform escapes with over 8 million baht in gold

    A male thief in a delivery rider’s uniform remains at large after stealing gold accessories worth over 8 million baht from a shop inside a shopping mall in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The manager of the Yaowarat Krung Thep gold shop reported the heist to Bang Bo Police Station at 3.50pm yesterday, August 14. According to the manager, the…

  • Crime NewsArmed Thai soldier opens fire on civilians in Surin, injuring 2 victims | Thaiger

    Armed Thai soldier opens fire on civilians in Surin, injuring 2 victims

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is pursuing a soldier who fled his military base with an M16 rifle and opened fire on civilians in Kap Choeng district, in the Isaan province of Surin, injuring two people. The official Facebook page of the 2nd Army Area reported this morning, August 15, that troops heard a burst of ten gunshots near Ban…

  • Thailand NewsThai transwoman says nightclub guard assaulted her over mismatched ID photo | Thaiger

    Thai transwoman says nightclub guard assaulted her over mismatched ID photo

    A Thai transwoman is seeking justice, accusing a nightclub security guard in the northern province of Chiang Rai of physically assaulting her for looking different from the photograph on her identification card. The 19 year old transgender victim, identified only as Weerapong, told ThaiRath that the incident occurred outside a nightclub in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, on the night…

  • Thailand NewsBorder clash victims complain over extra costs for document copies in Buriram | Thaiger

    Border clash victims complain over extra costs for document copies in Buriram

    Locals in the Isaan province of Buriram are demanding an investigation after a community leader collected an extra cost of 20 baht from residents who claimed compensation following recent border clashes. A resident from the border community in Nong Wang sub-district, Lahan Sai district, told reporters she was unhappy about the fee. She claimed the community leader collected 20 baht from…

  • Thailand NewsElderly Thai woman’s kindness exploited in 3,000 baht theft in Kalasin | Thaiger

    Elderly Thai woman’s kindness exploited in 3,000 baht theft in Kalasin

    An elderly Thai woman in the Isaan province of Kalasin offered free food to a female stranger and her family, but later discovered that the woman had stolen 3,000 baht in cash before leaving. The victim and her husband reported the theft to a community leader yesterday, August 13. The leader then passed the case to officers from the Sahatsakhan Police…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman arrested for luring women into illegal surrogacy for foreigners | Thaiger

    Thai woman arrested for luring women into illegal surrogacy for foreigners

    Police arrested a Thai woman at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, near Bangkok, yesterday, August 13, for recruiting women for illegal surrogacy services. Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Immigration Division 2 arrested the woman, identified as Urairisa, who allegedly offered surrogacy services to foreigners illegally. She was detained at the departure terminal on the…

  • Thailand NewsThai man escapes with 51 lottery tickets using fake transfer slip | Thaiger

    Thai man escapes with 51 lottery tickets using fake transfer slip

    A Thai lottery vendor in the Isaan province of Udon Thani lost 51 tickets to a man who used a fake money transfer slip to pay for the tickets yesterday, August 13. The female owner of a lottery stall outside a fresh food market in Udon Thani filed a theft complaint at Nong Wua So Police Station yesterday afternoon. She…

  • Phuket NewsSuicide at Sarasin Bridge in Phuket allegedly linked to private photo leak | Thaiger

    Suicide at Sarasin Bridge in Phuket allegedly linked to private photo leak

    A Thai man, believed to be a former Studio 7 employee involved in a private photo leak case, committed suicide at Sarasin Bridge in Phuket yesterday, August 13. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported that the man was seen jumping from Sarasin Bridge at around 5.30pm. The Kuson Dham Phuket Rescue Foundation arrived at the scene about ten minutes later…

  • Thailand NewsCourt jails ‘Uncle Phol’ for 26 years over his toddler niece’s mysterious death | Thaiger

    Court jails ‘Uncle Phol’ for 26 years over his toddler niece’s mysterious death

    The Court of Appeal Region 4 yesterday, August 13, sentenced Uncle Phol, the uncle of a young Thai girl who mysteriously died on a mountain in the Isaan province of Mukdahan five years ago, to 26 years in prison, while dismissing the case against his wife. One of the most publicised cases in Thailand in recent years was the death…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket netizens slam foreign cyclist for reckless lane change | Thaiger

    Phuket netizens slam foreign cyclist for reckless lane change

    Thai netizens condemned a foreign cyclist for cutting in front of a pickup on a main road in Phuket yesterday, August 12. The pickup driver, Pusana Ai Senrit, shared a dashcam footage of the incident in the Facebook group ขับรถแบบนี้ต้องประจาน ภูเก็ต (“Drivers like this must be exposed, Phuket”). In the caption, he wrote, “Uncle, you nearly lost your chance to…