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 NewsRussian drowns after ignoring warning at Surin Beach in Phuket | Thaiger

    Russian drowns after ignoring warning at Surin Beach in Phuket

    A Russian man drowned yesterday after swimming in the sea at Surin Beach in Phuket despite a red flag warning about strong waves. Thai lifeguards at Surin Beach called officers from Cherngtalay Police Station yesterday, June 16, after a foreign tourist was pulled unconscious from the water. He was later identified as 64 year old Russian man Aleksei Apostolov. Police…

  • Thailand NewsOil slick caper: CIB tracks stolen tankers to Malaysia waters | Thaiger

    Oil slick caper: CIB tracks stolen tankers to Malaysia waters

    Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers successfully located three oil tankers stolen from a Thai Marine Police (TMP) dock in Chon Buri and subsequently found in Malaysia. Eight crew members are missing, and a quantity of petrol has reportedly vanished. Five oil tankers were seized by illegal petrol smugglers on March 19 and berthed at TMP dock in the Sattahip district…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman seeks help after brutal assault by ex-boyfriend | Thaiger

    Thai woman seeks help after brutal assault by ex-boyfriend

    A Thai woman in the eastern province of Rayong is seeking help after repeated harassment and a recent physical assault by her ex-boyfriend at her workplace, which left her with severe injuries. The 31 year old victim turned to social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after officers from the Khao Chamao Police Station ignored her case. She was left living…

  • Thailand NewsKo Samui waterfall rescue: Italian’s ordeal ends with a splash | Thaiger

    Ko Samui waterfall rescue: Italian’s ordeal ends with a splash

    Thai rescuers spent over three hours rescuing an Italian man who suffered injuries to his hips and legs in an accident at Na Mueang Waterfall 2 in Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Koh Samui Tourist Police were alerted to an accident at Na Mueang Waterfall 2 yesterday, June 13. An Italian man, later identified…

  • Thailand NewsHeartless landlord leaves terminally ill man homeless before death | Thaiger

    Heartless landlord leaves terminally ill man homeless before death

    The owner of a rented house in the southern province of Songkhla refused to allow a terminally ill Thai man to rest in her residence. This forced the man to seek refuge in a temple, where he passed away this morning, June 14. Witnesses took to social media to share the heartbreaking story of 63 year old terminally ill Thai…

  • Thailand NewsSeptic shock: Colonel reassigned amid conscripts fee fuss | Thaiger

    Septic shock: Colonel reassigned amid conscripts fee fuss

    Following an online controversy, the colonel of the 22nd Logistic and Services Battalion has been reassigned to the 2nd Army Region. The issue arose when conscripts were charged a 500 baht fee for septic tank maintenance and other unjustified expenses. The Facebook page Esor News 3 shared a conscript’s salary slip on June 12, reporting that the conscript had asked…

  • Thailand NewsVictims condemn news agency for airing monk sex scandal videos | Thaiger

    Victims condemn news agency for airing monk sex scandal videos

    The Thai victims of a sex scandal involving a former monk condemned a news agency for publishing their explicit videos, causing embarrassment and making other victims scared to provide information to the police. A Thai couple, A and B, and their friend, C, sought help from Saimai Survive after the former monk, Phra Ajarn O, allegedly manipulated them into having…

  • Thailand NewsBaht’s the password? Thai gran’s costly slip leads to 105k bank loss | Thaiger

    Baht’s the password? Thai gran’s costly slip leads to 105k bank loss

    A 65 year old Thai woman lost 105,000 baht from her bank account after writing her ATM password on the back of the card and subsequently losing it on March 13, resulting in the loss of 105,000 baht in her bank account. The 65 year old victim, Janpen, accompanied by her 44 year old daughter, Somporn, sought help from Move…

  • Thailand NewsGrenade mistake: Thai woman’s recycling blunder shocks residents | Thaiger

    Grenade mistake: Thai woman’s recycling blunder shocks residents

    An old Thai woman in Chon Buri mistook a hand grenade for recyclable plastic and stored it in her home, leaving her neighbours in shock. Fortunately, the grenade was not harmful as it was a practice explosive. A 66 year old Thai man, Chanan Piyakhumni, reported to Sattahip Police Station today, June 13, that he discovered a weapon of war,…

  • Thailand NewsCaught in the act: Man arrested for luring women into online porn | Thaiger

    Caught in the act: Man arrested for luring women into online porn

    Police arrested a 20 year old Thai man in the northern province of Lamphun for tricking women, the youngest as young as 12, into making porn and selling explicit content online. Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) officers acted on a tip-off and investigated a Telegram account sharing explicit videos of several women until they managed to arrest the suspect, 20 year…

  • Thailand NewsThai man’s toothbrush with danger, nearly chokes to death | Thaiger

    Thai man’s toothbrush with danger, nearly chokes to death

    A Thai man accidentally swallowed a toothbrush and almost choked to death while brushing his teeth last night. The victim is now safe after a doctor managed to remove the toothbrush from his throat. Ruamkatanyu Rescue Foundation was alerted to the emergency incident at around 9pm yesterday, June 12, and rushed to the scene at a rented room in Soi…

  • Thailand NewsTikTok warning: Bolt rider assaults Thai woman over fare dispute | Thaiger

    TikTok warning: Bolt rider assaults Thai woman over fare dispute

    A Thai woman took to TikTok to warn other users about her experience with the Bolt ride-hailing application, where the rider in Bangkok physically assaulted her after she refused to pay his inflated fare. The victim shared security camera footage of the physical assault on her TikTok account, @picnicka, yesterday, June 12. According to the victim, the violent app-based rider…

  • Thailand NewsChinese suspects dish out 1 million baht to wrap up sexual assault case | Thaiger

    Chinese suspects dish out 1 million baht to wrap up sexual assault case

    Two Chinese men surrendered to police after a sexual assault at a restaurant in the eastern province of Prachin Buri on Monday. The Chinese suspects allegedly attempted to end the legal proceedings with 1 million baht. A Chinese man, whose identity was not disclosed, attacked a 20 year old Thai waiter, Jakkrit, at the restaurant in Prachin Buri province after…

  • Thailand NewsThai monk’s high crimes: Temple trouble over explicit posts & drugs | Thaiger

    Thai monk’s high crimes: Temple trouble over explicit posts & drugs

    Police arrested a Thai monk at a temple in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo for sharing explicit content on social media platforms and using drugs. The monk admitted to having sex with many men during his monkhood and infecting them with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Twitter account Red Skull shared explicit pictures of the Thai monk, later identified…

  • Crime NewsJealous Thai man turns himself in after setting fire to disabled wife | Thaiger

    Jealous Thai man turns himself in after setting fire to disabled wife

    In a horrific scene, a Thai man set fire to his disabled wife outside her home in the central province of Nakhon Pathom yesterday. He fled the scene before turning himself in to police later that night. The Wat Chan Rescue Foundation was alerted to the brutal attack yesterday, June 12, and rushed to transport the victim from her home…

  • Thailand NewsThai man loses 30,000 baht after incomplete ATM deposit | Thaiger

    Thai man loses 30,000 baht after incomplete ATM deposit

    A Thai man lost 30,000 baht in cash after an incomplete deposit process at an automated teller machine (ATM) in a shopping mall in the Bang Kapi district of Bangkok. Thai tour guide Ter is seeking assistance from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after the loss. He recounted the incident to the organisation and media, stating that he deposited 30,000 baht…

  • Thailand NewsHoly heartbreak: Isaan man jobless and wifeless after monk affair | Thaiger

    Holy heartbreak: Isaan man jobless and wifeless after monk affair

    A Thai man in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen lost his job and subsequently his wife to a former monk. He demanded she discuss a divorce and financial support for their daughter, and he plans to sue her lover. The legal husband, Ohm, shared his heartbreaking story during an interview with Channel 3. He revealed that he met his…

  • Thailand News3 Thai men posing as MFP members arrested on kidnap for ransom | Thaiger

    3 Thai men posing as MFP members arrested on kidnap for ransom

    Police arrested three Thai men after they posed as members of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and kidnapped a victim in the Isaan province of Surin, demanding a ransom of 1 million baht. A Thai woman filed a complaint at Mueang Surin Police Station on June 10, reporting that her boyfriend, Trakarn, was kidnapped while working at their store in…

  • Thailand NewsThai commando takes taxi driver for a ride after fare fraud fiasco | Thaiger

    Thai commando takes taxi driver for a ride after fare fraud fiasco

    A Thai commando police officer dragged a taxi driver to Huay Kwang Police Station in Bangkok after the driver attempted to overcharge him using a modified meter. The driver claimed he needed the money to feed stray dogs and cats. Police Lance Corporal Phubate Rattanaphong told Channel 3 that the incident took place on the morning of June 9 during…

  • Thailand NewsScam escape: Taiwanese tourist flees call centre conmen | Thaiger

    Scam escape: Taiwanese tourist flees call centre conmen

    A Taiwanese man sought help from Thai police in the central province of Ang Thong after he escaped from two foreigners who tricked him into working for a call centre scam gang. The 33 year old Taiwanese man, Lin Kai Lun, filed a complaint at Chaiyo Police Station in the Chaiyo district of Ang Thong after he managed to flee…

  • Thailand NewsChinese man stabs Thai waiter for stopping sexual assault (video) | Thaiger

    Chinese man stabs Thai waiter for stopping sexual assault (video)

    A Chinese man attacked a Thai waiter with a knife at a restaurant in the eastern province of Prachin Buri on Monday, June 10, for intervening in a sexual assault on a female party entertainer. An assistant chef at the restaurant where the incident took place shared a video of the physical altercation on Facebook yesterday, June 11, with the…

  • Thailand NewsThai couple tricked into affair and left in 500,000 baht debt | Thaiger

    Thai couple tricked into affair and left in 500,000 baht debt

    A Thai couple in the Isaan province of Nong Khai is seeking justice, accusing a former school director of tricking them into a seedy polygamous relationship which left them with a 500,000 baht debt. The 58 year old woman, Sarinya Worrarat, turned to the Ban Dung Update, Facebook page for assistance after losing both her home and savings due to…

  • Thailand NewsNaked cop shop rage: Delivery rider arrested for attacking family | Thaiger

    Naked cop shop rage: Delivery rider arrested for attacking family

    Police arrested a food delivery rider after he damaged the car of a family of three, including a 10-month-old baby, and threatened them with a knife. The rider reportedly continued his rampage by removing his clothes while being detained at a police station. The victims, 32 year old Akkarapon and 38 year old Rinlaphat, shared videos and pictures of the…

  • Crime NewsThai couple accuses monk of manipulating them into group sex | Thaiger

    Thai couple accuses monk of manipulating them into group sex

    A Thai couple are seeking justice from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after a monk in the northern province of Phetchabun allegedly manipulated them into having group sex, leaving them deeply traumatised. The incident has caused such severe distress that both are now receiving treatment in a hospital for mental health issues. The couple revealed their story to Saimai Survive and…

  • Thailand NewsModern-day Lazarus: Thai man rises from dead, runs 3km home | Thaiger

    Modern-day Lazarus: Thai man rises from dead, runs 3km home

    In an almost Biblical tale, a 59 year old Thai man in the Isaan province of Surin came back from the dead. A medical team managed to administer CPR to bring the dead man back to life. Remarkably, the modern-day Lazarus refused further treatment, climbed out of the ambulance and ran more than 3 kilometres back home. A 33 year…

  • Thailand NewsMuay Thai boxer shares near-death experience on Qatar flight | Thaiger

    Muay Thai boxer shares near-death experience on Qatar flight

    A Muay Thai boxer recounted his near-death experience when he and other passengers were stranded for three hours on a Qatar Airways flight from Greece to Qatar, even though a fire broke out at the back of the aircraft. The Muay Thai boxer, known as Thananchai Sit Song Phi Nong, visited the city of Patras in Greece to participate in…

  • Thailand NewsThai girl in critical condition after 1,000 baht drinking challenge | Thaiger

    Thai girl in critical condition after 1,000 baht drinking challenge

    A 13 year old Thai girl remains in critical condition in an intensive care unit after being challenged to drink alcohol to win 1,000 baht at an ordination ceremony at a temple in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima. The girl’s grandmother, 72 year old Aui, filed a complaint against a Thai man who tricked her granddaughter, A, into drinking…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman dies in sauna room at Nonthaburi shopping mall | Thaiger

    Thai woman dies in sauna room at Nonthaburi shopping mall

    A 68 year old Thai woman died while relaxing in a sauna room in a fitness centre at a shopping mall in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. Her body was found yesterday evening, June 10. A worker at the fitness centre made the grim discovery: the lifeless body of 68 year old Thunchanok, lying in the sauna room at about 6pm…

  • Thailand NewsMonkey business: Thai women 5th most beautiful in ASEAN | Thaiger

    Monkey business: Thai women 5th most beautiful in ASEAN

    American finance website Insider Monkey ranked Thai women as the fifth most beautiful in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region while Vietnam was crowned queen of the rankings. Insider Monkey launched the Top Country/Region with Most Beautiful Women in Asia report on May 31 including 20 leading countries rated by the website’s team. The top 20 countries/regions: South…

  • Thailand NewsDrama erupts over Catholic monk haircuts in Ratchaburi church | Thaiger

    Drama erupts over Catholic monk haircuts in Ratchaburi church

    An online drama erupted after Thai netizens raised questions about the consent of young boys who received Catholic monk haircuts for a church event in the central province of Ratchaburi. The news Facebook page Esor News 3 shared pictures of young Thai boys in student uniforms with Catholic monk haircuts on Friday, June 7. Each boy’s head was shaved bald…