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.
  • Eastern Thailand NewsItalian drug user arrested on Koh Chang after argument with Thai wife | Thaiger

    Italian drug user arrested on Koh Chang after argument with Thai wife

    Koh Chang police arrested an Italian man for drug use today, March 27, after a caretaker at his rented house called officers to intervene in a violent argument between him and his Thai wife. Koh Chang Police Station officers were called to the couple’s home at about 9.50am and found them arguing outside the accommodation. Police identified the Italian man…

  • Bangkok NewsBritish mother seeks woman seen with son before his death in Bangkok hotel | Thaiger

    British mother seeks woman seen with son before his death in Bangkok hotel

    A British mother is trying to identify and contact a foreign woman who was seen with her son, Joshua Kershaw, shortly before he was found dead at a hotel in Sukhumvit area of Bangkok in January. The family of 21 year old British man Joshua began searching for him on social media after losing contact on January 12. Joshua spoke…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket man arrested for groping 4 Thai and foreign women | Thaiger

    Phuket man arrested for groping 4 Thai and foreign women

    Police arrested a Thai man for sexually assaulting at least four women in the Chalong area of Phuket throughout March. Chalong Police Station said it received four reports of sexual assault from four victims, including Thai and foreign nationals. Police said the incidents caused fear in the area, and some victims were injured while trying to break free from the suspect.…

  • Thailand NewsDSI ends proceedings against ex-abbot of Phra Dhammakaya Temple | Thaiger

    DSI ends proceedings against ex-abbot of Phra Dhammakaya Temple

    The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced the terminated legal proceedings against the former abbot of Phra Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani and the owner of the Victoria’s Secret massage parlour in Bangkok. The former abbot, Chaiyabun Suddhipol, better known as Luang Por Dhammajayo, was accused of money laundering and receiving stolen goods after funds described as illegal were found…

  • Central Thailand NewsFamily of 3 killed in crash on roadworks in Nakhon Pathom | Thaiger

    Family of 3 killed in crash on roadworks in Nakhon Pathom

    A family of three were killed in a crash on Phetchakasem Road in Nakhon Pathom early yesterday, March 26, with relatives alleging the road was under repair without sufficient warning lights. Officers from Sam Phran Police Station were alerted to the incident at about 3am and went to the scene with rescuers from the Ala Nukroh Nakhon Pathom Foundation. Police…

  • Koh Samui NewsKoh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan ferry fares increase after fuel price jump | Thaiger

    Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan ferry fares increase after fuel price jump

    Travellers heading to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan now face higher ferry fares after a sharp hike in fuel prices across Thailand prompted a ferry operator in Surat Thani province to raise ticket prices. Seatran Ferry, which operates services between Don Sak Pier in the mainland of Surat Thani and the two islands, first announced a fare adjustment on…

  • Central Thailand NewsSaraburi illegal fuel storage sites found with 29,000 litres in DSI raids | Thaiger

    Saraburi illegal fuel storage sites found with 29,000 litres in DSI raids

    Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) found three illegal fuel storage sites in Saraburi province, seizing more than 29,000 litres of suspected smuggled diesel and gasoline during a nationwide crackdown. DSI announced the results of the operation carried out between March 24 and 25 in 16 provinces covering 35 main targets to the public yesterday, March 26. The…

  • Thailand NewsLoei monk and alleged lover accused of lewd rituals on old locals | Thaiger

    Loei monk and alleged lover accused of lewd rituals on old locals

    A senior monk in Loei and his alleged lover faced allegations of deceiving elderly men into a lewd “charm boosting ritual” involving sexual activities. Residents and monks in Pak Chom district, Loei, shared details of the scandal with several news agencies on Tuesday, March 24. The allegations involve a 65 year old senior monk, Somchai Taechapanyo, and a man identified…

  • Phuket NewsLuxury car service centre worker in Phuket steals client’s Rolex watch | Thaiger

    Luxury car service centre worker in Phuket steals client’s Rolex watch

    A employee, initially suspected to be employed at a Porsche service centre in Phuket, returned a stolen Rolex watch worth nearly 500,000 baht after police identified him through fingerprints found inside the vehicle. A Thai woman said on Facebook that her son’s Rolex, valued at 479,000 baht, went missing from a storage compartment inside her white Porsche Taycan GTS after…

  • Central Thailand NewsThai woman nearly loses finger after knife attack by neighbour | Thaiger

    Thai woman nearly loses finger after knife attack by neighbour

    A woman in Pathum Thani nearly lost her fingers after a neighbour attacked her with a knife, following a long-running dispute involving her teenage brother. She also claimed repeated complaints to local police did not lead to action. The 22 year old victim, Rojjana, sought assistance from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after her reports were reportedly ignored by police.…

  • Northern Thailand NewsPolice criticised for shooting 14 year old boy on Lampang road | Thaiger

    Police criticised for shooting 14 year old boy on Lampang road

    Lampang police come under criticism after a patrol officer shot a 14 year old motorcycle rider in the arm on a road in Mueang Lampang district on Tuesday, March 24. Rescuers were called to Wicharawut Road in Mueang Lampang district to provide first aid to the 14 year old Thai boy before taking him to the hospital. He reportedly suffered…

  • Phuket NewsSaudi tourist files complaint after 40000 baht massage in Phuket | Thaiger

    Saudi tourist files complaint after 40000 baht massage in Phuket

    A masseuse in Phuket allegedly charged 40,000 baht to the credit card of a Saudi Arabian tourist, despite the customer agreed to pay 1,200 baht for a massage. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต reported that the tourist filed a complaint at Patong Police Station yesterday, March 25, after discovering a 40,000 baht charge made at a massage shop near Patong…

  • Thailand NewsMinister to drop lawsuit over berry picker bribery claims | Thaiger

    Minister to drop lawsuit over berry picker bribery claims

    A former labour minister said he will withdraw defamation lawsuits filed against a local news editor over reporting linked to allegations of bribery connected to Thai berry pickers sent to work in Finland and Sweden. The current Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Suchart Chomklin, who previously served as labour minister, said he would withdraw the cases against The Isaan Record…

  • Thailand NewsThai snake rescuer shares safety warning after cobra escapes inside car | Thaiger

    Thai snake rescuer shares safety warning after cobra escapes inside car

    A Thai snake rescuer and YouTuber shared a video of a cobra emerging inside a moving car, saying he and a friend avoided injury after the snake escaped from a fertiliser bag during transport. Nirut “Nick” Chom-ngam, better known online as Nick Wildlife, posted the clip on Facebook on March 23 and wrote in the caption, “A snake out in…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman accuses Mukdahan monk of abortion pressure | Thaiger

    Thai woman accuses Mukdahan monk of abortion pressure

    A Thai woman accused a monk in Mukdahan province, with whom she has a relationship, of being unfaithful and pressuring her to have an abortion. The woman posted on Facebook in recent days to express her anger against the monk. She shared photos showing them holding hands and kissing on the forehead, and also included an ultrasound image taken at…

  • Pattaya News25 Indians arrested for turning Pattaya villa into online gambling base | Thaiger

    25 Indians arrested for turning Pattaya villa into online gambling base

    Police arrested 25 Indian nationals after conducting a raid on a villa in Pattaya that was converted into an operational base for three online gambling websites, with more than 700 million baht circulated through the platforms. Officers from Immigration Division 3 raided the villa in Soi Nong Mai Kaen 19 yesterday, March 24, following a tip-off that the property was…

  • Thailand NewsBuriram man finds 7-centimetre needle near heart after chest injury | Thaiger

    Buriram man finds 7-centimetre needle near heart after chest injury

    A Thai man in Buriram province is in a critical condition after doctors found a seven-centimetre needle lodged in his chest, almost piercing his heart. Rescue workers were called to a house in Krasang district yesterday, March 24, to assist Boonlert Sattaram, who reported pain in his chest. He reportedly tried drinking water to ease the symptoms, but it did…

  • Chiang Mai NewsChiang Mai tram bidding set for 2027, services targeted to begin in 2032 | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai tram bidding set for 2027, services targeted to begin in 2032

    The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) plans to open bidding for the Chiang Mai tram project in 2027, with construction expected to start in 2028 and the service targeted to open in 2032. The Chiang Mai light rail or tram project was first raised in 2017 and later approved by the Cabinet in 2018. Previous reports put the…

  • Central Thailand NewsCanadian accused of dodging motorcycle repair bill and stealing 20,000 baht | Thaiger

    Canadian accused of dodging motorcycle repair bill and stealing 20,000 baht

    A Canadian man allegedly refused to pay for repairs to a damaged rented motorcycle and stole 20,000 baht in cash from a rental shop in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The owner of a motorcycle rental business in Soi Dan Samrong 60 contacted media outlets after receiving no updates from police on legal proceedings against the Canadian suspect, identified as…

  • Phuket NewsForeign couple breaks into Phuket restaurant to swim and smoke cannabis | Thaiger

    Foreign couple breaks into Phuket restaurant to swim and smoke cannabis

    A restaurant owner in the Rawai area of Phuket reported a foreign couple to police after they were filmed entering the property without permission, using the swimming pool and consuming cannabis on-site. The owner of Grills Nai-Harn shared a video online showing an employee confronting the couple and asking them to leave. In her post, she asked for help identifying them…

  • Thailand NewsForeign man searches for Thai wife and son with letter and photos from 1966 | Thaiger

    Foreign man searches for Thai wife and son with letter and photos from 1966

    A foreign man is searching for his Thai wife and their son after receiving an old letter and photographs from the woman about 60 years ago. A Facebook user, Bubba Homes, posted an old letter and photos in the group ที่นี่..”ขอนแก่น” (This is Khon Kaen) today, March 23. In the caption, the user said a man named Abel wanted to…

  • Phuket NewsForeigner attacked and robbed by 3 men at Phuket ATM | Thaiger

    Foreigner attacked and robbed by 3 men at Phuket ATM

    Phuket police are yet to issue a statement after a foreigner was attacked and robbed by three men in front of an ATM in Patong. The incident was captured on CCTV. The footage was shared by several news outlets last week. A timestamp on the video indicates the incident took place at about 5am on March 19. KhaoSod English reported…

  • Aviation NewsThai Airways ticket prices rise 10% to 15% as jet fuel costs jump | Thaiger

    Thai Airways ticket prices rise 10% to 15% as jet fuel costs jump

    Thai Airways gradually increased fares by 10% to 15% as higher jet fuel costs linked to unrest in the Middle East. Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri told media the airline has been managing the impact of the escalating conflict involving a US and Israel coalition and Iran. He said the most immediate effect was the jet fuel prices, which rose…

  • Pattaya NewsRussian man charged after cash withdrawals linked to call centre scam | Thaiger

    Russian man charged after cash withdrawals linked to call centre scam

    Police in Chon Buri arrested a Russian man while he was withdrawing cash linked to a call centre scam operation from an ATM in Chon Buri on March 19. Chon Buri Provincial Police said officers launched a crackdown on a call centre scam gang after noticing suspicious behaviour involving foreign nationals withdrawing money from multiple ATMs across the Na Jomtien…

  • World NewsUS issues alert urging Americans to exercise increased caution | Thaiger

    US issues alert urging Americans to exercise increased caution

    The US Department of State issued a worldwide security alert advising US citizens to exercise increased caution, citing an escalating US-Israel-Iran war. In the alert issued yesterday, March 22, the department urged US citizens, particularly those in Middle Eastern countries, to take extra precautions and follow security guidance provided by the nearest US embassy or consulate. The department said US diplomatic…

  • Pattaya NewsIranian motorcyclist kills Finnish tourist on Pattaya zebra crossing | Thaiger

    Iranian motorcyclist kills Finnish tourist on Pattaya zebra crossing

    An Iranian motorcyclist crashed into and killed a Finnish man while the victim was crossing a road at a zebra crossing in Pattaya on Saturday, March 21. Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers investigated the crash on Na Jomtien Sai Song Road near Rom Pho Market at about 9.40pm. Police found two injured foreigners at the scene: 55 year old Finnish…

  • Aviation NewsSuvarnabhumi Airport ranking rises to 36th in 2026 world’s best airport | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi Airport ranking rises to 36th in 2026 world’s best airport

    Airports of Thailand (AOT) announced that Suvarnabhumi International Airport was ranked 36th in the 2026 World’s Best Airport list, improving its ranking by three positions from 39th last year. In a Facebook post shared yesterday, March 22, AOT said Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport brought pride to Thailand again following service improvements that helped both airports rise in…

  • Pattaya NewsJapanese tourist attacked by group of Thai men on Pattaya road | Thaiger

    Japanese tourist attacked by group of Thai men on Pattaya road

    Police are investigating an assault on a Japanese tourist after viral footage showed a group of Thai men, including a motorcycle taxi rider, repeatedly punching and kicking him on a road in Pattaya on Saturday, March 21. Mueang Pattaya Police Station said the case came to light after clips of the incident circulated on Thai social media. In one video,…

  • Bangkok NewsThai man rapes and blackmails ex-girlfriend over unpaid debt | Thaiger

    Thai man rapes and blackmails ex-girlfriend over unpaid debt

    A Thai man surrendered to Bangkok police after he raped his ex-girlfriend in a public bathroom and later blackmailed her with the explicit videos to pressure her over an unpaid debt of about 700,000 baht. The suspect, 28 year old Jirapas Kangwankrai, turned himself in at Tha Kham Police Station on Wednesday, March 18, after public attention intensified over a…

  • World NewsMum on the run in Asia TikToker jailed after return to UK from Thailand | Thaiger

    Mum on the run in Asia TikToker jailed after return to UK from Thailand

    A British TikToker known online as “Mum on the run in Asia” was sentenced to 26 months in prison for drug offences after returning to the UK from Thailand. The TikTok user, Ellis Matthews, left the UK in 2021 and travelled to Thailand while pregnant. She later attracted attention online for a controversial video posted last year on her TikTok…