Inside massage parlour where top Aussie lawyer found dead
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Former NSW Liberal MP Jeremy Kinross, 65, dies unexpectedly in Thailand
Former NSW MP Jeremy Kinross has died suddenly in Thailand. Mr Kinross was found unconscious outside a supermarket in Phuket on Saturday night, having reportedly choked on corn kernels, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Kinross was transported to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 65. The masthead reported the former MP was alone and unconscious outside the supermarket near his accommodation in Cape Panwa when he was discovered by a passer-by. His death is yet to be confirmed by Royal Thai Police. It is not known how long he had been in Thailand at the time of his death. Kinross practiced as a barrister and an accountant before becoming the Liberal Party member for Gordon – a position he held for six-and-a-half years in the NSW Legislative Assembly until it was abolished by redistribution in 1999. After leaving politics, Kinross went into consultancy and specialised in strategic relationships and change. A spokesman for the NSW Liberal Party said they were 'shocked and saddened to learn of Jeremy Kinross' untimely passing'. 'He will be fondly remembered by his colleagues, party members and the community for his great contributions, in the business sector and as the Member for Gordon. 'He served our state with distinction and will be greatly missed. On behalf of our members, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.' Current Member for Davidson Matt Cross said he was 'very sad' to hear of Kinross' death. 'He was a larger than life character and still knew many locals by first name,' he said in an online statement. 'His advice to me was simple but powerful: 'Make every day count.''
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Why is there conflict between Thailand and Cambodia?
Months of border tension between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated into an armed clash that has killed as many as 11 civilians and left others fleeing for safety. Both countries have exchanged gunfire on the border, and the Thai army has responded with air strikes at military targets, as each nation blamed the other for the escalation of conflict. Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters that Cambodia's actions, including an attack on a hospital, should be considered war crimes. But what exactly is going on, and how did we get here? Here's what to know about the dispute between the two South-East Asian neighbours. Armed clashes broke out on Thursday in long-disputed border areas in Thailand and Cambodia, which included gunfire exchanges and shelling and rocket fire, which Thai authorities said killed at least 11 Thai civilians, including a five-year-old, and injured 14 others in three provinces. Thailand responded with air strikes. Of the six F-16 fighter jets that Thailand readied to deploy, one of the aircraft fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, the Thai army said. "We have used air power against military targets as planned," Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Clashes are ongoing in at least six areas along the border, the Thai Defence Ministry said. The first clash on Thursday morning happened in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, along the border of Surin and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. The dispute first flared in May after armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia briefly fired at each other in a relatively small, contested border area that each country claims as its own. Both sides accused each other and said they acted in self-defence. A spokesperson for Cambodia's defence ministry said there had been an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops, and Cambodian forces had responded in self-defence. While the countries said afterwards they agreed to de-escalate the situation, Cambodian and Thai authorities continued to implement or threaten measures short of armed force, keeping tensions high. Thailand added tight restrictions at the border with Cambodia that stopped almost all crossings except for students, medical patients and others with essential needs. On Thursday, Thai authorities announced they were sealing the border entirely. Cambodia also banned Thai movies and TV shows, stopped the import of Thai fuel, fruits and vegetables, and boycotted some of its neighbours' international internet links and power supply. The neighbours are locked in a bitter spat over an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet, and which is home to several ancient temples. The row has dragged on for decades, flaring into bloody military clashes more than 15 years ago and again in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a firefight. Australian resident Olivia Tedeschi travelled from Cambodia to Thailand last week and told the ABC that foreign tourists like herself were "panicking" after all operating buses were cancelled and she was forced to fly. "You physically couldn't get from Cambodia to Thailand or vice versa by border land crossings," she said. Ms Tedeschi, who was volunteering in Cambodia, planned to catch the popular seven-hour bus from Siem Reap in the country's north-west to Bangkok last week. "Everyone catches the buses, but then all of a sudden, all of the buses started getting cancelled," she said. "They told us it was because the borders were shut." She said a young girl from Cambodia told her she was worried the conflict would escalate. The 26-year-old Tasmanian resident was able to catch a flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok, but said she was questioning if she should leave the country while she can. "Everyone was panicking when we heard the borders were closing," she said, referring to foreign travellers in hostels and popular online travel group chats and forums. "No one really knows what to do." The Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel warnings for Thailand on the government's Smartraveller website on June 30, advising Australians to exercise a high degree of caution due to safety and security risks. It advised travellers in Cambodia to monitor the ongoing border dispute and follow the advice of local authorities. "I remember thinking 'oh, they'll probably open them back up in two weeks' [when I wanted to leave], but they didn't," she said about leaving Cambodia. "I'm not sure if I should leave Thailand or not." Border disputes have caused periodic tensions between the two neighbours. Thailand and Cambodia share more than 800 kilometres of land border. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. The most prominent and violent conflicts have been around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations. Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, following several clashes between its army and Thai forces that killed about 20 people and displaced thousands. The court reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia's favour in 2013. Cambodia has again turned to the international court to resolve the border disputes, but Thailand has rejected the court's jurisdiction. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the situation was delicate. "We have to be careful," he told reporters. "We will follow international law." An attempt by Thailand's then-premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra to resolve the recent tensions via a call with Cambodia's influential former Prime Minister Hun Sen, the contents of which were leaked, kicked off a political storm in Thailand, leading to her suspension by a court. ABC/Reuters
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
23yo Aussie found dead in Thailand
A young Australian man has been found dead in a Thai hotel room reportedly one day before he was set to return home. According to local outlet 'Phuket News', police found the 23-year-old man in his hotel bed in Tambon Thepkrasatths wearing a black T-shirt and still holding his mobile phone. Phuket News reported there were no signs of a disturbance, no evidence of a break-in, and no visible injuries indicating foul play, although police did observe that his elbow and wrist had been bandaged. Friends told authorities these injuries were the result of a recent motorbike accident. An investigation officer with the local station received a call at around 10am from a nurse at Thalang Hospital, reporting the death of the 23-year-old. Officers later identified the man and confirmed that he had checked into the hotel on Sunday July 20 and was scheduled to check out on July 24. Police said the Australian Consulate in Phuket had been notified and a forensic doctor attended to examine the scene. The man's body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Police said they were continuing their investigation. The Phuket News is withholding the man's name pending confirmation that his next of kin have been notified. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were unable to comment until those further details were released.
