Inside massage parlour where top Aussie lawyer found dead

News.com.au

11-07-2025

Police investigating the death of high-flying Australian lawyer Christopher Saines are looking into whether a white powder found in his pocket was cocaine - and if the Thai massage parlour whe he died was licensed to operate.
Mr Saines was holidaying with his wife, Chantho, and their two children on the popular southern island of Koh Samui
Authorities say initial inquiries suggest the 'deeply loved and devoted' father died from heart failure.
Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong of Bo Phut Police Station told journalists that officers found a small ziplock bag containing a white powder in Mr Saines' trouser pocket, and until the substance, suspected to be cocaine, is tested and results confirmed, police will keep an open mind.
A police source said the results were still a couple of days away.
Mr Saines was last seen barefoot and with a beer in hand before he entered Siam Touch Massage in Bo Phut late on Sunday night.
It is understood the 43-year-old chief executive of Brisbane firm GLG, left the 17-room property in the tourist area overlooking Chaweng Beach late on Sunday night.
He arrived at the parlour alone, apparently opting for a 400 baht – $A18 – traditional oil massage.
Col Phumaret Inkong said that after Mr Saines finished getting the massage, he got dressed and went to the bathroom.
'Then, he asked to sit and rest on the bed for a moment, and he simply fell asleep,' he said, according to Asia Pacific Press.
'The masseuse said that he was snoring so loudly that they had to ask the guests nearby if they wanted to change rooms.
'He stayed like that until around 3am, when the shop closed, and the masseuse left him to sleep in the room.'
Mr Inkong said around 6am, she came back up to wake him, but he didn't respond.
'She then called her friend to help check on him. That's when they discovered that he had passed away. It's believed that he died sometime after 4am.'
Masseuse Premyupa, 47, told local media after she finished the massage around 1.10am, Mr Saines, who paid in cash, asked to rest on the bed.
'I went to serve another customer and when I came back around 10 minutes later, he was asleep,' she continued.
'He was still snoring around 4am, so I didn't wake him.'
Ms Premyupa told local outlet Thaiger when she returned to wake him two hours later, he was cold and unconscious.
She said it was around 6.20am when she tried to wake him, adding he was not breathing.
'I panicked and called the other staff for help.'
Mr Inkong said when police arrived at the scene, Mr Saines 'was already lying dead', adding 'there was no foam at the mouth'.
Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said the masseuse reported no injuries, and the massage 'proceeded normally without incident.'
While there were no CCTV cameras inside the massage parlour, which reportedly also offers sexual services, police found footage outside the shop which showed Mr Saines arriving without shoes and carrying a can of beer.
Officials investigating massage parlour
Officials are investigating whether the parlour, housed in a three-storey commercial building, is licensed to operate.
News.com.au understands the massage parlour, not currently listed on Google, only opened in June this year.
The building is also home to Samui Green Hotel, which did not have any information regarding Mr Saines' death when contacted by news.com.au.
Images show several rooms inside the parlour including the alleged private room Mr Saines was found unresponsive.
Police and medics from Koh Samui Hospital found him lying horizontally across a narrow bed with his legs dangling over the side.
Mr Inkong said there were no signs of physical struggle.
'The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally,' he said.
Initial inquiries suggest the 43-year-old died of heart failure. His body was taken to the Surat Thani Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Staff from villa searched for Mr Saines
When staff at the luxury hotel noticed Mr Saines had not returned to the villa on Sunday night, they started to look for him.
'The hotel staff noticed the guest was missing, so they went out to look for him,' Mr Inkong said.
Police said that the staff 'did not show any suspicious behaviour' and his wife, Chantho, had not raised any concerns with officers about foul play.
News.com.au has contacted the villa for comment.
Heartbreak over Mr Saines' death
Mr Saines' wife, Chantho, was informed of his death about 3pm on Monday. The family were staying at the luxury villa during there time on the island.
Shocked staff at the late lawyer's firm – GLG – told news.com.au he was expected back at work next week.
A statement sent to news.com.au by GLG Legal said the family of Mr Saines was overwhelmed by grief, and that the 43-year-old was 'deeply loved'.
'It is with unimaginable sorrow that we confirm the sudden passing of a beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, and colleague, Christopher Saines, who died earlier this week while on holiday with his family in Thailand,' the statement read.
'Christopher was a deeply loved member of our family and a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us.
'At just 43, Christopher had already made a profound impact through his professional achievements and his unwavering commitment to the people and causes he cared about most. He lived with purpose, passion, and drive.
'Christopher leaves behind his loving wife and two young children. He was a dedicated family man and a remarkable father. He will be remembered by us as a warm, loving, and caring person.
'We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we've received during this incredibly painful time from our friends, colleagues, and the broader public.'
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family.
Mr Saines was the leading commercial and property law solicitor at Brisbane-based firm, GLG.
According to his LinkedIn he has been a CEO at the firm for 10 years. He was also an Advisory Board Member of Aged Care Reviews and a committee member of the International Bar Association.
DFAT have been contacted for comment on Australia's involvement in the investigation and arrangements for Mr Saines to be returned to his homeland.