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 NewsIllegal elephant pants from China seized at Bangkok warehouse | Thaiger

    Illegal elephant pants from China seized at Bangkok warehouse

    Economic Crime Suppression Division officers swooped on a warehouse in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok and seized 30,000 elephant pants valued at over 6 million baht. The pants were imported from China without paying taxes. Acting on a tip-off regarding the tax evasion associated with the imported elephant pants from China, officers conducted the raid on the warehouse…

  • Thailand NewsGolden getaway: Thai woman swipes Chinese man’s credit cards in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Golden getaway: Thai woman swipes Chinese man’s credit cards in Pattaya

    A Thai woman is on the run after stealing credit cards from a Chinese man to buy two gold necklaces valued at about 33,000 baht from a gold shop in Pattaya. Bang Lamung Police Station told Channel 8 that the 33 year old Chinese man, Dihui Wu Dihui, reported the theft of his credit cards to the police via a…

  • Thailand NewsRussian demands 100,000 baht from Thai woman for alleged assault (video) | Thaiger

    Russian demands 100,000 baht from Thai woman for alleged assault (video)

    A Russian man accused a Thai woman of physically assaulting him at a house in the Isaan province of Buriram last month, demanding the woman pay him 100,000 baht in compensation. The accused woman denied the allegation and told a different side of the story to a new agency. The Russian man filed a complaint against 42 year old Sommai…

  • Thailand NewsNew Zealanders in hot water after assaulting Thai officer in Phuket | Thaiger

    New Zealanders in hot water after assaulting Thai officer in Phuket

    Two New Zealanders, who physically assaulted a Thai police officer on Chao Fah East Road in Phuket on Saturday were charged with five offences and face a lifetime ban from entering Thailand. The incident occurred when a traffic officer from the Chalong Police Station, Somsak Noo-iad, asked two foreign men, later identified as 36 year old Hamish Day and 38…

  • Thailand NewsBorrowed money turns to ashes: Thai man loses 100,000 baht in van fire (video) | Thaiger

    Borrowed money turns to ashes: Thai man loses 100,000 baht in van fire (video)

    A Thai man’s fortunes went up in smoke when he borrowed 100,000 baht from a bank to settle an informal debt, only to lose the entire sum in a van fire accident in the central province of Prachin Buri. Firefighters from Prahantakam District Office in Prachin Buri rushed to extinguish the fire that broke out in the van owned by 34…

  • Thailand NewsHeartbreak heist: Thai man accuses lover swindling 38 million baht, stealing data | Thaiger

    Heartbreak heist: Thai man accuses lover swindling 38 million baht, stealing data

    A Thai businessman filed a complaint against his lover, accusing her of stealing confidential data from a hospital and swindling him out of 38 million baht. The 63 year old Wasit visited Pak Kret Police Station in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok yesterday, March 14, to file a complaint against his lover, Teeranan, who used to work as a nurse at…

  • Thailand NewsSole searching: Thai man hits Buddha with flipflop after ex-wife return wish fails | Thaiger

    Sole searching: Thai man hits Buddha with flipflop after ex-wife return wish fails

    CCTV footage at a temple in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat showed a Thai man hitting a Buddha statue with a flipflop after a wish for the return of his ex-wife was unfulfilled. A local in the Ron Phibun district of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Piyapong Sutthiphakdee, took to social media to condemn the Thai man for his disrespectful…

  • Thailand NewsHTMS Chon Buri fires at another Thai vessel, 14 sailors hurt (video) | Thaiger

    HTMS Chon Buri fires at another Thai vessel, 14 sailors hurt (video)

    A near-catastrophe unfolded yesterday when the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ship HTMS Chon Buri inadvertently discharged its weapon, firing at another naval ship, HTMS Khirirat, causing injuries to 14 sailors aboard HTMS Khirirat. HTMS Chon Buri docked at Laem Thian Pier within the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province, had just completed training on March 13. While the vessel…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman defends husband for shooting her with harpoon | Thaiger

    Thai woman defends husband for shooting her with harpoon

    A Thai woman in the Isaan province of Buriram defended her husband, who shot her with a harpoon, to prevent him from being arrested, saying the shooting was an accident. Her husband said otherwise. Rescuers from the Siam Ruamjai Pu-in Foundation in the Nang Rong district of Buriram province hurried to assist a 46 year old woman named Phan who…

  • Thailand News73 year old Thai man swindles friends to pay party entertainers | Thaiger

    73 year old Thai man swindles friends to pay party entertainers

    Police arrested a 73 year old Thai man at his house in the Huay Kwang district of Bangkok after he swindled millions of baht from his friends to pay for two female party entertainers. A Thai man filed a complaint against his 73 year old friend, Charnyut Saelok, accusing him of swindling about 300,000 baht. The victim explained that Charnyut…

  • Thailand NewsLost in Translation: Foreign man’s tattoo trouble echoes Hangover II | Thaiger

    Lost in Translation: Foreign man’s tattoo trouble echoes Hangover II

    In a scene that could have been shot in the Hangover II movie, a foreign man turned to social media for help after waking up with a Thai tattoo written across his chest. The meaning of the writing remained unclear to him until Thai netizens stepped in with the answer, which might prompt him to have the tattoo removed. The…

  • Thailand NewsThai cops probe groping incident by foreign men in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thai cops probe groping incident by foreign men in Bangkok

    Thai police are investigating two foreign men who allegedly sexually assaulted some Thai women by groping their bottoms while the women were working on Khao San Road in Bangkok on Monday. A Thai woman shared pictures and videos of the two foreign men on her Twitter account on Monday, March 11 after the assaults. She urged netizens to help her…

  • Thailand NewsSingaporean motorist lashes out at Thai police officer over fine | Thaiger

    Singaporean motorist lashes out at Thai police officer over fine

    A Singaporean man attacked a Thai police officer after he was fined for riding a motorcycle without a license and a helmet in Phuket. The incident occurred when traffic officers from the Cherng Talay Police Station stopped the Singaporean man, 37 year old Lim Jia Jie, at the Cherng Talay Intersection checkpoint on March 13. Lim was riding a motorcycle…

  • Thailand NewsThai police hunt Tajik suspect in Russian man’s murder in Phuket | Thaiger

    Thai police hunt Tajik suspect in Russian man’s murder in Phuket

    Thai police identified a Tajik man as a suspect in the murder of a Russian man at a cannabis farm in Phuket. The accused foreigner already left Thailand on March 12. A 34 year old Thai man, Burin, filed a report on the missing Russian man, 42 year old Artur Mkhitarian, at Chalong Police Station yesterday, March 13. Burin explained…

  • Thailand NewsMissing Thai woman reportedly arrested in Malaysia | Thaiger

    Missing Thai woman reportedly arrested in Malaysia

    A Thai restaurant owner in Malaysia revealed that a Thai woman, who disappeared on March 8, has been arrested by Malaysian police. She is reportedly safe but will be unable to contact her family until her interrogation is complete. The missing Thai woman, 26 year old Chutimon “Care” Jantawisai, travelled from her home province, Loei, in Isaan to work at…

  • Thailand NewsTemple turmoil: Thai trans troupe takes abbot to court over image mockery | Thaiger

    Temple turmoil: Thai trans troupe takes abbot to court over image mockery

    Seven Thai transgender dancers filed a lawsuit against the abbot of Sophon Dhammaram Temple in the Isaan province of Surin for insulting them by sharing their pictures and making fun of their appearance. The abbot, Wittaya Sophonwanno, on March 11, shared a picture of seven transwomen performing a traditional Thai dance in angel costumes on his Facebook account. In the caption,…

  • Thailand NewsMFP could be dissolved over lese majeste law reformation plan | Thaiger

    MFP could be dissolved over lese majeste law reformation plan

    The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) requested the Constitution Court to consider dissolving the Move Forward Party (MFP). This request comes as a response to the MFP’s efforts to reform the lese majeste law, also known as Section 112 of the Criminal Law. Thai lawyer Teerayut Suwannakaesorn previously asked the Constitution Court to take action on the MFP and its…

  • Thailand NewsFarang mafia: Phuket businesses welcomes Thais, sometimes | Thaiger

    Farang mafia: Phuket businesses welcomes Thais, sometimes

    Businesses in Phuket have denied favouring foreign tourists over Thai residents and visitors. Business operators in the popular seaside resort of Thailand, particularly entertainment venues and vehicle rental shops, expressed pleasure in welcoming Thai tourists but acknowledged that they might encounter being turned away from certain businesses or during specific times. The controversy unfolded as Thai and foreign netizens shared…

  • Thailand NewsThai man survives black bear attack during ant egg hunt (video) | Thaiger

    Thai man survives black bear attack during ant egg hunt (video)

    A Thai man survived an attack by an Asian black bear while hunting for ant eggs within the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Isaan province of Buriram at the weekend. The victim’s wife, 56 year old Warn Chernprakone, shared details of the incident on Sunday, March 10 with Matichon. Warn explained that her 60 year old husband, Phumin Joysaku,…

  • Thailand NewsForeign man sexually assaults pregnant horse in Phuket | Thaiger

    Foreign man sexually assaults pregnant horse in Phuket

    CCTV cameras at a horse farm in the Thalang district of Phuket province featured a foreign man sexually assaulting a pregnant horse, causing the animal to suffer a miscarriage. The horse owner revealed that the foreigner was an 18 year old American from Fairfax County, Virginia named Steven Lee Snyder, adding that the perverted teenager had committed this disturbing act multiple…

  • Thailand NewsIndian passenger robbed by Chinese man on flight to Bangkok | Thaiger

    Indian passenger robbed by Chinese man on flight to Bangkok

    Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station officers arrested a Chinese man for stealing cash and a Rolex watch worth over 500,0000 baht from an Indian man on a flight from India to Bangkok. The airport’s security centre and Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station received a report of the theft from Vistara airline on March 7. The crime took place during flight UK 123…

  • Thailand NewsSidecar saga: 70 year old’s 600km epic journey to the seaside | Thaiger

    Sidecar saga: 70 year old’s 600km epic journey to the seaside

    A 70 year old Thai man was so determined to enjoy the seaside for the first time in his life that he successfully rode his sidecar motorcycle over 600 kilometres from the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani to Koh Chang, an island in the eastern province of Trat. The story of the 70 year old, Loi Tapila, came to light…

  • Thailand NewsWarning issued over Thai man masturbating to standee | Thaiger

    Warning issued over Thai man masturbating to standee

    A Thai netizen issued a warning to locals in the Chum Phae district of the Isaan province of Khon Kaen after witnessing a Thai man masturbating and trying to have sex with a 6-foot (1.82 metre) cardboard standee outside a convenience store in the area. The video of a Thai man engaging in sexual activity with a standee was shared…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok’s Suvarnabhumi soars to seventh heaven in luxury airport rankings | Thaiger

    Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi soars to seventh heaven in luxury airport rankings

    Travel magazine and website Travel + Leisure ranked Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok as the seventh place most luxurious airport in the world. It was also rated second in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Financial information and research website Business Financing recently launched the best and worst airports in the world ranking in February this year. In the…

  • Thailand NewsThai millionaire and her secretary found dead at house in Hua Hin | Thaiger

    Thai millionaire and her secretary found dead at house in Hua Hin

    Police are investigating the deaths of a millionaire and her secretary at a house in the Hua Hin district in the southern province of Prachuap Kiri Khan. A letter left at the scene suggested that the secretary accidentally shot her employer dead before committing suicide. The son of 64 year old Suphatta Suwantanon revealed he could not contact his mother…

  • Thailand NewsDead body of Russian man found in Pattaya roadside forest | Thaiger

    Dead body of Russian man found in Pattaya roadside forest

    A motorcycle taxi rider stumbled upon the dead body of a Russian man in a roadside forest on the Thep Prasit 9 Road in Bang Lamueng district of Pattaya yesterday, March 10. Police suspect suicide as the cause of his death. A 46 year old Thai man named Choosak reported the discovery of the dead Russian man, 34 year old…

  • Thailand NewsAustralian man under investigation for road rage incident near Bangkok (video) | Thaiger

    Australian man under investigation for road rage incident near Bangkok (video)

    A Thai woman filed a complaint against an Australian man, accusing him of intentionally causing an accident and damaging her car at Bearing Intersection in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok on March 3. The Thai driver, Angkana, reported to DailyNews that the incident took place when she was driving her sedan to her home in Samrong Nuea district of Samut…

  • Thailand NewsSex pest caught sexually assaulting women in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Sex pest caught sexually assaulting women in Bangkok

    Police arrested a Thai sex pest for repeatedly sexually assaulting women, especially teenagers, in the Min Buri district of Bangkok by grabbing their breasts, masturbating in front of them, and spitting on them. More than ten women filed a complaint at Min Buri Police Station that a perverted Thai sex pest on a motorcycle approached them while they were walking…

  • Thailand NewsThai cop’s ‘exhausting’ excuse fails to sway assault claims (video) | Thaiger

    Thai cop’s ‘exhausting’ excuse fails to sway assault claims (video)

    A Thai officer from Tarnsum Police Station in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani claimed that a congenital disease and exhaustion led him to assault a man seeking assistance at the cop shop. He denied drinking alcohol on duty. Thai man Prayoon Duangnate is seeking justice by exposing the officer’s behaviour to several media outlets. He was later identified as Tarnsum…

  • Thailand NewsHouse of cards: Vietnamese nationals busted in Bangkok gambling raid | Thaiger

    House of cards: Vietnamese nationals busted in Bangkok gambling raid

    Immigration Bureau officers raided a luxury house in the Rama 9 neighbourhood of Bangkok and arrested 18 Vietnamese nationals for running a gambling website. Immigration police revealed to several news outlets in a press conference yesterday, March 7, that they successfully suppressed an online gambling gang run by a Vietnamese investor on March 5. They arrested 18 Vietnamese suspects at…