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 NewsForeign student injured in Chiang Rai car crash seeks accountability | Thaiger

    Foreign student injured in Chiang Rai car crash seeks accountability

    A foreign student at Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai turned to TikTok to seek justice after being injured in a car accident in which a Thai driver failed to take responsibility, despite one man dying at the scene. The victim, La Min Khaing, is a second-year undergraduate at the Faculty of Cosmetic Science at Mae Fah Luang University.…

  • Bangkok News3 Vietnamese men arrested in illegal cannabis farm raid in Bangkok | Thaiger

    3 Vietnamese men arrested in illegal cannabis farm raid in Bangkok

    Police raided an illegal cannabis farm hidden inside a warehouse in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian district and arrested three Vietnamese men today, December 17. The raid was carried out by officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in coordination with officials from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Officials moved in after receiving a complaint from a local…

  • Thailand NewsTaiwanese man arrested for running prostitution ring involving 16 Thai women | Thaiger

    Taiwanese man arrested for running prostitution ring involving 16 Thai women

    Taiwanese police arrested a Taiwanese man for running a prostitution ring involving 16 Thai women, including his own girlfriend, who acted as a translator and helped recruit more Thai sex workers to Taiwan. Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) announced the successful crackdown on a transnational prostitution network on Friday, December 12. Although the operation was carried out in June, the…

  • Thailand NewsRayong woman arrested in acid attack on husband on his birthday | Thaiger

    Rayong woman arrested in acid attack on husband on his birthday

    Police arrested a Thai woman after she carried out an acid attack on her husband at their accommodation in Rayong province yesterday, December 16, which was also the victim’s birthday. Officers from Nikhom Phattana Police Station, along with rescue workers from the Siam Rayong Foundation, rushed to a room in the Nikhom Phattana district at around 2am after receiving a…

  • Thailand NewsMalaysian pencak silat team allegedly assaults referees after SEA Games dispute | Thaiger

    Malaysian pencak silat team allegedly assaults referees after SEA Games dispute

    The Malaysian pencak silat team allegedly assaulted referees and competition officials during the SEA Games competition in Thailand on Monday, December 15, saying the referee team favored the Thai athlete. The incident took place during the women’s pencak silat Class B (50–55kg) quarter-final match between Jongthima Ruenthong of Thailand and Nor Farah Mazlan of Malaysia at Impact Arena, Muang Thong…

  • Pattaya NewsForeign motorcyclist nearly loses leg after crashing into parked pickup in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Foreign motorcyclist nearly loses leg after crashing into parked pickup in Pattaya

    A foreign man nearly lost his leg after crashing his motorcycle into a parked pickup truck on a road in Pattaya late on Monday night, December 15. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station received a report of the accident at 11.36pm. The crash occurred on Thepprasit Road near the entrance to Soi Thepprasit 6. Police coordinated with rescue workers from…

  • Thailand NewsAmerican man detained in Surin after photographing military airport | Thaiger

    American man detained in Surin after photographing military airport

    Police in Surin province detained a suspicious American man yesterday, December 16, after he was seen taking photographs near a military airport and refusing to allow officers to inspect his mobile phone. Border Patrol Police Unit 21 (BPP 21), which was stationed near Chaloem Phra Kiat 80th Anniversary Park in Mueang district, alerted officers from Mueang Surin Police Station after…

  • Thailand NewsTrip.com halts cooperation with Cambodia amid privacy concerns | Thaiger

    Trip.com halts cooperation with Cambodia amid privacy concerns

    Online travel agency Trip.com cancelled its cooperation agreement with Cambodia’s tourism authorities after Chinese and Thai users reportedly expressed fears that their personal information could be leaked or misused. According to a recent report by Chinese local news outlet ST Headline, Trip.com had entered into a tourism promotion partnership with Cambodia’s National Tourism Authority (NTA). The agreement was signed on December…

  • Bangkok NewsPickpocket gang caught on CCTV stealing from foreign woman in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Pickpocket gang caught on CCTV stealing from foreign woman in Bangkok

    A Thai man issued a public warning about a pickpocket gang after CCTV footage captured three women stealing from a foreign tourist walking along Songwat Road near Bangkok’s Chinatown. Chanatib Bunpasoet-chn posted the video of the crime on his Facebook account yesterday, December 15, with a caption stating… “Scam warning. This afternoon, this foreign tourist requested to check a security…

  • Phuket NewsCalls for legal action after foreigners spray-paint walls in Phuket | Thaiger

    Calls for legal action after foreigners spray-paint walls in Phuket

    A Thai man called for legal action against two foreign men after they were seen spray-painting walls in Phuket without permission from property owners. The issue was raised by Facebook user Yotwadee Panthong, who shared photos of the two foreign men in a Facebook group of Phuket locals yesterday, December 15. In his post, Yotwadee criticised the men’s behaviour and…

  • Thailand NewsForeign woman slammed for urinating outside Koh Tao restaurant | Thaiger

    Foreign woman slammed for urinating outside Koh Tao restaurant

    A Thai restaurant owner sparked online discussion after he shared CCTV footage showing a foreign woman urinating outside his property on Koh Tao in Surat Thani province. The restaurant owner, Phanthakan Mana, posted the video in the Facebook group Surat Thani 4.0 on Sunday, December 14. He said the incident happened between 3.53am and 4am outside his home, which also…

  • Thailand NewsMore than 100 evacuated after ammonia leak at ice factory in Nakhon Pathom | Thaiger

    More than 100 evacuated after ammonia leak at ice factory in Nakhon Pathom

    An ammonia leak at an ice factory in Nakhon Pathom province yesterday, December 15, forced the evacuation of more than 100 residents living nearby. The situation has now been brought under control. According to a report by MGR Online, the ammonia leaked from an ice production factory, Siam Pyramid Company, located in the Tha Talat sub-district of Sam Phran district.…

  • Thailand NewsThai energy firms deny Cambodia fuel exports after unusual surge detected | Thaiger

    Thai energy firms deny Cambodia fuel exports after unusual surge detected

    The 2nd Army Area yesterday, December 15, ordered tighter controls on the export of all types of fuel at the Chong Mek Border Checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani province to prevent supplies from being transported to Cambodia. The order resulted in more than 100 fuel tanker trucks being stranded at the checkpoint yesterday. Drivers were instructed to stop and wait while…

  • Thailand NewsThai NGO accuses Cambodia of hiring US firm to wage information warfare | Thaiger

    Thai NGO accuses Cambodia of hiring US firm to wage information warfare

    A Thai non-government organisation accused Cambodia of hiring an American consulting firm to carry out information warfare against Thailand on the international stage. The accusation was made by the Facebook page of STRONG Thailand Anti-Corruption Organisation on Sunday, December 14. The organisation shared documents obtained from efile.fara.gov, a website operated under the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as evidence to…

  • Thailand NewsEmbassy rejects claims of Russian spies targeting Thai military site | Thaiger

    Embassy rejects claims of Russian spies targeting Thai military site

    The Russian Embassy in Thailand firmly denied accusations made by local police officers in Nakhon Ratchasima province, who claimed that Russian nationals were hired by Cambodia to spy on and potentially attack Thai military facilities. The allegations first appeared on the official Facebook page of Phon Krung Police Station on Sunday, December 14. In the now-deleted post, police said they…

  • Thailand NewsThai monk sparks online debate after travelling on rollerblades in Phitsanulok | Thaiger

    Thai monk sparks online debate after travelling on rollerblades in Phitsanulok

    A Thai monk in Phitsanulok province sparked criticism online after he was seen travelling along a main road while wearing rollerblade boots, with many netizens questioning whether his actions were appropriate for a monk. The incident came to public attention after a Thai man, Panomkorn U-koum, shared a video of the monk on his Facebook and Instagram accounts yesterday, December…

  • Thailand NewsThai man cites son with Down’s syndrome after stealing police’s motorcycle | Thaiger

    Thai man cites son with Down’s syndrome after stealing police’s motorcycle

    A Thai man claimed he stole a motorcycle to raise money to care for his son, who suffers from Down’s syndrome, after taking the vehicle of a commando police officer in Nonthaburi province. Pak Kret Police Station officers arrested the 39 year old suspect, identified as Thanathat, at his rented room in Soi Kosum Ruamjai, Don Mueang district, Bangkok, on…

  • Bangkok NewsCIB arrest Chinese suspect hiding in Bangkok over 260 million baht bid rigging | Thaiger

    CIB arrest Chinese suspect hiding in Bangkok over 260 million baht bid rigging

    Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested a Chinese man in Bangkok who was hiding from an arrest warrant in China over bid rigging that caused damages of more than 260 million baht. In coordination with Chinese authorities, CIB officers arrested the 49 year old Chinese suspect, Song, at a house in Soi Krungthep Kreetha 7, Hua Mark sub-district, Bang Kapi…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket man arrested for forcing tourists to pay for iguana photos | Thaiger

    Phuket man arrested for forcing tourists to pay for iguana photos

    Phuket police arrested a Thai man on Friday, December 12, after he was accused of taking photos of tourists with his reptiles without consent and then forcing them to pay. Officers from Patong Police Station received complaints about a Thai man who allegedly targeted tourists, particularly foreigners, by encouraging or tricking them into posing for photos with his reptiles, reported…

  • Road deathsUAE tourist killed in motorcycle collision with friends in Phang Nga | Thaiger

    UAE tourist killed in motorcycle collision with friends in Phang Nga

    A tourist from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was killed after a motorcycle collision with his three friends in Phang Nga province on Friday, December 12. Officers from Takua Thung Police Station were notified of the fatal accident at around 6.30pm and arrived at the scene on Phetkasem Road, approximately 1.5 kilometres from the police station. Rescuers from the Wat…

  • Thailand NewsHun Sen denies blocking Thais from returning home and urges air travel | Thaiger

    Hun Sen denies blocking Thais from returning home and urges air travel

    Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen denied accusations of human rights violations after Thai nationals were reportedly blocked from returning home via land border crossings, insisting the restrictions were imposed purely for safety reasons. The issue came to light on December 11, when Thai nationals stranded in Cambodia sought assistance from Thai authorities, claiming Cambodian officials at a border checkpoint near Si…

  • Thailand NewsNakhon Ratchasima police allege Russian spies hired by Cambodia | Thaiger

    Nakhon Ratchasima police allege Russian spies hired by Cambodia

    Police in Nakhon Ratchasima sparked confusion among Thai netizens after briefly posting, then deleting, a warning on social media that alleged Cambodia in hiring Russian nationals to spy on and attack military facilities in the province. The official Facebook page of Phon Krung Police Station published the post at around 6pm yesterday, December 14. The post stated… “Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial…

  • Phuket NewsAustralian man dies after running into glass door at Phuket restaurant | Thaiger

    Australian man dies after running into glass door at Phuket restaurant

    An Australian man died after suffering severe blood loss when he reportedly ran into a glass door at a restaurant in the Karon area of Phuket last night, December 11. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 10.30pm and rushed to the restaurant to investigate reports of a disturbance involving a foreign man. However, the…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok governor shares chubby childhood photo to raise awareness on child obesity | Thaiger

    Bangkok governor shares chubby childhood photo to raise awareness on child obesity

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt used a childhood photo of himself and his twin brother to promote a new health campaign aimed at tackling child obesity in the capital. Chadchart attended the launch of the project yesterday, December 11, which was introduced through a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Royal Danish Embassy in…

  • Bangkok News5 year old Thai girl rescued after repeated abuse by stepmother | Thaiger

    5 year old Thai girl rescued after repeated abuse by stepmother

    A non-profit organisation rescued a five year old Thai girl yesterday, December 11, after suffering repeated abuse by her stepmother in the Bang Khun Thian area of Bangkok. The rescue was carried out by Be One organisation, led by its founder, Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart. Ton Or said a neighbour who witnessed the abuse for years finally decided to seek help…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman killed as pickup spins into Pathum Thani bus stop | Thaiger

    Thai woman killed as pickup spins into Pathum Thani bus stop

    A Thai woman was killed after a pickup truck lost control and spun into a bus stop in Pathum Thani province yesterday morning, December 11. Officers from Thanyaburi Police Station were called to investigate the fatal accident at around 8am at a bus stop on Rangsit–Nakhon Nayok Road in the Thanyaburi district. Rescue workers later found the body of the…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman shoots ex-husband after alleged break-in at Ayutthaya home | Thaiger

    Thai woman shoots ex-husband after alleged break-in at Ayutthaya home

    A Thai woman claimed self-defence after shooting her ex-husband who allegedly broke into her home in Ayutthaya yesterday, December 11. Officers from Bang Pa-in Police Station, along with rescuers from the Ayutthaya Ruamjai Foundation, were called to a house in the Sam Ruean sub-district of Bang Pa-in district at around 10am following reports of a shooting. At the scene, officers…

  • Thailand NewsEmbassy intervenes after Thais barred from crossing back from Cambodia | Thaiger

    Embassy intervenes after Thais barred from crossing back from Cambodia

    The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh sent an urgent letter to Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior after Thai nationals in Cambodia were reportedly barred from returning home through the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province. Officials from the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office told Thai PBS on Wednesday, December 11, that Cambodian authorities at the Ban Khlong Luek…

  • Thailand NewsPM Anutin dissolves parliament, says he wants to ‘return power to the people’ | Thaiger

    PM Anutin dissolves parliament, says he wants to ‘return power to the people’

    Thai Prime Minister (PM) Anutin Charnvirakul announced the dissolution of Parliament late last night, December 11, saying he wanted to “return power to the people.” At around 10pm, Anutin posted a brief message on his Facebook account confirming that his government had submitted a request to dissolve the House of Representatives for royal approval, and the request was officially approved…

  • Phuket NewsMixed reactions after foreign rider condemned for illegal U-turn in Phuket | Thaiger

    Mixed reactions after foreign rider condemned for illegal U-turn in Phuket

    Thai netizens shared mixed reactions after a Phuket driver condemned a foreign rider for making an illegal U-turn over a traffic island. The Thai driver posted dashcam footage of the incident on his Facebook account, Wongwit Sand. The clip was later reshared by Newshawk Phuket Facebook page, which supported Wongwit’s criticism writing… “Foreigner tries bringing death to himself, making a…