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.
  • Koh Samui NewsIsraeli ‘The Avengers’ crime gang figure arrested on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Israeli ‘The Avengers’ crime gang figure arrested on Koh Samui

    A leading member of an Israeli criminal organisation called “The Avengers” was arrested on Koh Samui on Wednesday, April 29, under the cooperation with Interpol and Israeli officials. Immigration Bureau Division 6 commander Chutharet Yingyongdamrongsakul confirmed today, April 30, that officers detained 28 year old Matan Aviv following coordination with Interpol and the Israeli Embassy in Thailand. According to Israeli…

  • Bangkok NewsIndian man pays 20 times item value after being caught with stolen fan in Terminal 21 | Thaiger

    Indian man pays 20 times item value after being caught with stolen fan in Terminal 21

    A phone accessory shop owner at Terminal 21 mall in Bangkok confronted a foreign customer, reported to be an Indian national, over a shop theft and demanded compensation of 20 times the value of the stolen item. The incident took place at Case Study, a store located inside Terminal 21 shopping mall in Asok. The shop shared details and images…

  • South Thailand NewsPhatthalung police accused of deceiving mentally ill man into gambling | Thaiger

    Phatthalung police accused of deceiving mentally ill man into gambling

    Parents accused a police officer in Phatthalung of deceiving their mentally ill son into gambling, leading to losses of around 120,000 baht. The parents, 46 year old Yupaporn and 53 year old Thanasak, sought help from a local journalist, claiming their 20 year old son Peerasak was targeted by a police senior sergeant major identified as Suea, who serves under…

  • Bangkok NewsForeign passenger flees safely after 2 taxi riders fight on Bangkok road | Thaiger

    Foreign passenger flees safely after 2 taxi riders fight on Bangkok road

    A foreign passenger narrowly escaped injury during a fight between two motorcycle taxi riders after app-based riders clashed with a knife on a road in Bang Bon district of Bangkok on Tuesday, April 28. Footage of the incident circulated on Thai social media yesterday, April 29, showing two motorcycle taxi riders arguing and fighting in the middle of a busy…

  • Thailand NewsChiang Mai woman seeks help after Chinese scammers force access to her bank | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai woman seeks help after Chinese scammers force access to her bank

    Two Chinese nationals and a Thai woman were arrested in Chiang Mai yesterday, April 29, after forcing a housemaid to provide her bank account for a mule account by holding her two children. Police identified the suspects as 31 year old Chinese nationals Ji and Penhyu, along with Ji’s Thai girlfriend Apinya. The arrests followed a report from the victim, who…

  • Politics NewsThaksin to return home under probation after parole set for May 11 | Thaiger

    Thaksin to return home under probation after parole set for May 11

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be released on parole on May 11, with authorities requiring him to complete a four-month probation period before his full release in September. The 23rd PM of Thailand, Thaksin, entered Khlong Prem Central Prison on September 9 last year to serve a one-year sentence linked to his stay at Police General…

  • Pattaya NewsSwedish man arrested for stealing data from Pattaya hotel for scam operation | Thaiger

    Swedish man arrested for stealing data from Pattaya hotel for scam operation

    A Swedish man was arrested yesterday, April 29, for stealing data from a hotel in Pattaya and using it in a scam that caused losses exceeding 100,000 baht among 35 victims. The hotel in Pattaya reported the case to Cyber Police, stating that several guests were targeted by fraudulent messages sent to them via email with a fake hotel domain.…

  • South Thailand NewsThai couple allegedly kills man after swindling his money using AI generated profile | Thaiger

    Thai couple allegedly kills man after swindling his money using AI generated profile

    A Thai couple allegedly operated a romance scam using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a social media profile, and murdered a victim in Surat Thani after their criminal action was caught. The victim, 61 year old Wichit Chompong, was found with more than 10 gunshot wounds in a roadside plantation in Son Sak district. His mobile phone was damaged and…

  • Central Thailand NewsLop Buri locals question authenticity of Yaba advertising sign on road | Thaiger

    Lop Buri locals question authenticity of Yaba advertising sign on road

    A sign advertising Yaba for sale at a road intersection in Lop Buri province circulated on Thai social media, prompting calls for police to investigate. The sign, reportedly placed on a traffic island near Ananda Mahidol Hospital, included a contact name and phone number, raising concerns among residents. Images shared by Facebook users showed a white board attached to a…

  • Thailand NewsThai man steals from coin-operated washing machines and allegedly fakes disabilities | Thaiger

    Thai man steals from coin-operated washing machines and allegedly fakes disabilities

    A disabled bakery vendor known on social media was arrested for stealing coins from coin-operated washing machines in Bangkok on April 21. He was also accused of faking his disabilities to increase the sales. The owner of the machines, 23 year old Thanatchai, filed a complaint with Phetkasem Police Station after two suspects were seen in a CCTV footage taking…

  • Transport NewsThailand to save energy by cutting or reducing street lights on rural roads | Thaiger

    Thailand to save energy by cutting or reducing street lights on rural roads

    Thailand’s Department of Rural Roads announced it will shut down or reduce street lighting on selected rural highways nationwide from May 1 as part of an energy-saving measure linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The Director-General of the Rural Roads Department, Pichit Hoonsiri, confirmed on April 25 that the Thailand street light reduction plan aims to manage national…

  • Phuket NewsPolice face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road | Thaiger

    Police face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road

    Two foreign tourists were seen walking naked along a road in the Kata-Laemsai area of Phuket yesterday, April 28, prompting criticism of local police and officials over their response to the incident. Images of the naked tourists in Phuket were shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page, showing the pair without clothing while standing roadside with a group of friends.…

  • Thailand NewsKhon Kaen girl dies in parked car after waiting for promised trip | Thaiger

    Khon Kaen girl dies in parked car after waiting for promised trip

    A four year old girl died in a car yesterday, April 28, after entering the vehicle and waiting inside when her mother promised to take her on a trip. Officers from Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station were alerted at around 2.30pm to the death at a house in Thepharak 5 Community. Police attended the scene with rescuers from Sawang Khon Kaen…

  • World NewsPad Thai sales break world record at LA Songkran event | Thaiger

    Pad Thai sales break world record at LA Songkran event

    A Guinness World Record was set during the Songkran Festival in Los Angeles on April 26 after more than 1,300 Pad Thai dishes were sold within one hour. The “2026 Thai New Year: Songkran Festival” took place along a three-kilometre stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, which was closed to host the event. The organisers described it as the largest Thai festival…

  • World NewsCambodia pushes back against ‘Scambodia’ label in US media | Thaiger

    Cambodia pushes back against ‘Scambodia’ label in US media

    Cambodia protested against the use of the term “Scambodia” in a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article published on April 19, demanding its removal, which WSJ refused. The article, titled “How Cybercrime became a leading industry in ‘Scambodia’,” stated that Cambodia is a major global hub for scam operations, with compounds described as being the size of small towns. It also claimed…

  • Pattaya NewsThai man abandons girl after alleged sex abuse, leaving her clinging to his pickup | Thaiger

    Thai man abandons girl after alleged sex abuse, leaving her clinging to his pickup

    A 17 year old girl was rescued after clinging to a moving pickup truck and falling onto a road in Pattaya on Sunday, April 26, following an alleged sexual abuse by the driver. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm on a road along Mab Prachan Reservoir in Bang Lamung district. A 23 year old motorcyclist, identified only as Mix, witnessed…

  • Krabi NewsForeign man steals from Krabi cannabis shop while staff sleeps | Thaiger

    Foreign man steals from Krabi cannabis shop while staff sleeps

    A foreign man was caught on CCTV stealing cannabis products from a shop in Krabi, yesterday, April 27, while a staff member was asleep. The incident occurred at a cannabis shop in Ao Nang subdistrict. The shop owner shared footage of the theft with media and warned other local businesses. The suspect’s face was captured on the shop’s security camera.…

  • Phuket NewsForeign tourists take turn showing their private parts on Phuket tuk tuk | Thaiger

    Foreign tourists take turn showing their private parts on Phuket tuk tuk

    A group of foreign tourists were criticised after exposing themselves to motorists while travelling in a tuk tuk in Patong, Phuket. Images posted by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, April 27, showed several foreigners standing in the vehicle, turning towards traffic behind them and pulling down their trousers. The page stated in the caption… “Bottoms show in Patong. Foreign…

  • Thai Law NewsThai govt plans to collect 1,000 baht exit fee from Thai people travelling abroad | Thaiger

    Thai govt plans to collect 1,000 baht exit fee from Thai people travelling abroad

    Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to collect an exit fee of 1,000 baht for Thai citizens travelling abroad to fund domestic tourism. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakun said he would consult the Ministry of Finance on reinstating the Departure Tax Act. The law was previously enforced with a 500 baht fee charged to outbound Thai travellers. Under…

  • Thailand NewsChinese gold robbery suspects tracked by cigarette butts | Thaiger

    Chinese gold robbery suspects tracked by cigarette butts

    Police arrested two Chinese nationals after tracking them through cigarette butts left at the scene of a gold robbery in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday, April 27. Officers from Chok Chai Police Station and Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police investigated the robbery at a gold shop in Dan Kwian subdistrict, Chok Chai district, which took place at around 10.10am. CCTV footage showed two…

  • Phuket NewsForeign woman allegedly steals trainers left outside Phuket home | Thaiger

    Foreign woman allegedly steals trainers left outside Phuket home

    A Thai resident in Phuket exposed a foreign woman, who allegedly stole trainers from outside the home by sharing footage of the incident online. The video was posted on the Phuket Times Facebook page and circulated today, April 27. According to the timestamp, the incident occurred at around 10.27am on April 26 in Khok Tanote, Karon subdistrict. The footage was…

  • Thailand NewsNakhon Ratchasima government officials investigated for alleged citizenship fraud | Thaiger

    Nakhon Ratchasima government officials investigated for alleged citizenship fraud

    A citizenship fraud investigation was launched in Nakhon Ratchasima after a mayor filed a complaint against municipal officers accused of issuing illegal citizenship and birth certificates to foreigners, many reportedly linked to Chinese criminal activity. The Department of Provincial Administration coordinated with Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality to examine suspicious documents. Investigators identified at least 27 questionable birth certificates, most involving…

  • Central Thailand NewsTeenage gunman kills Thai man in Phra Pradaeng Songkran celebrations | Thaiger

    Teenage gunman kills Thai man in Phra Pradaeng Songkran celebrations

    A teenage gunman surrendered to police today, April 27, after a shooting in Songkran celebrations in Samut Prakan killed one man and injured his wife. The incident occurred on Sunday, April 26, during extended Songkran festivities in Soi Suksawat 72, Phra Pradaeng district. The victims were identified as 34 year old Nopparat Chimwaree and his 33 year old wife, Sunanta…

  • Central Thailand NewsThai prison denies mistreatment and corruption allegations from inmate’s leaked audio | Thaiger

    Thai prison denies mistreatment and corruption allegations from inmate’s leaked audio

    Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi denied allegations of mistreatment and corruption raised by an inmate, Chaowalit “Sia Paeng” Thongduang, following leaked audio recordings released last week. The recordings accused officials at Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi of unfair treatment, granting privileges to certain inmates, and engaging in corrupt practices. Paeng claimed prison officials deliberately blocked documents he submitted…

  • Central Thailand NewsDrug-fuelled gunman opens fire on Ayutthaya road, killing Thai woman | Thaiger

    Drug-fuelled gunman opens fire on Ayutthaya road, killing Thai woman

    A Thai man, reportedly under the influence of drugs, opened fire on a road in Ayutthaya yesterday, April 26, killing a woman and injuring another man. Two children and several motorists fortunately escaped injuries. The incident occurred on a road along the Phraya Ban Lue Canal in Lat Bua Luang subdistrict. Motorists and witnesses reported the shooting to Lat Bua…

  • Aviation NewsKrabi flight evacuated after passenger tells attendant ‘beware of bomb’ | Thaiger

    Krabi flight evacuated after passenger tells attendant ‘beware of bomb’

    A Chon Buri man made a fake bomb threat during the Thai AirAsia flight from Krabi to Bangkok yesterday, April 26, causing a four-hour delay. Police at Nuea Khlong Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 5.20pm. The situation occurred on an Airbus A320 operating Thai AirAsia flight AIQ 4401 from Krabi International Airport to Suvarnabhumi International Airport,…

  • Phuket NewsForeign men caught on CCTV footage stealing guitar in Phuket | Thaiger

    Foreign men caught on CCTV footage stealing guitar in Phuket

    A Thai man is seeking help online after two foreign men stole his guitar from a motorcycle in Karon, Phuket, at around 2.30am yesterday, April 23. The 19 year old victim, Kasidit, shared details with the Phuket Times Facebook page and Khao Phuket in the hopes of identifying the two men and recovering his guitar. The theft was captured on…

  • Thailand NewsSRT shortens train booking period to 90 days to reduce unused seats | Thaiger

    SRT shortens train booking period to 90 days to reduce unused seats

    The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reduced the advance ticket sales period from 180 days to 90 days today, April 24, to improve seat management and reduce unused bookings. The SRT announced the adjustment on its official Facebook page today, April 24, saying the revised booking period is intended to make seat reservations more efficient and better reflect current passenger…

  • Bangkok NewsNo GHB found in Thai woman who claimed Songkran water gun was spiked | Thaiger

    No GHB found in Thai woman who claimed Songkran water gun was spiked

    Police confirmed that no gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, was found in the system of a Thai woman who claimed she may have been exposed to the spiked water sprayed from a water gun during Songkran celebrations in Bangkok. The Songkran GHB claim drew attention online after the woman shared her experience on TikTok on April 13. She said she attended an…

  • Thailand NewsBang Kwang Prison escapee alleges corruption, phone access for inmates in leaked recording | Thaiger

    Bang Kwang Prison escapee alleges corruption, phone access for inmates in leaked recording

    A Thai inmate, who previously made headlines for a prison break in 2023, accused prison officers at Bang Kwang Central Prison of corruption and giving special privileges to some prisoners, including access to computers and mobile phones. The corruption allegations levied against Bang Kwang Prison were made by Chaowalit “Paeng” Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng, in leaked voice recordings released…

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