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Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Family of lawyer found dead in Thailand break their silence after 'incredibly painful' tragedy
The family of a high-flying Queensland lawyer and CEO found dead in Thailand on Monday have told of their 'unimaginable sorrow' over his passing. Christopher Saines, 43, was found unresponsive at Siam Touch Massage parlour on the Thai holiday island of Koh Samui about 6am on Monday. Police believe Mr Saines had left his $4,000-a-night hotel, Villa Mia, where he was staying with his wife Chantho and their young son and daughter, around midnight. On Tuesday, his heartbroken family remembered Mr Saines as 'deeply loved'. 'Christopher was a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us,' a statement issued by his law firm said. '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.' His wife is a manager at Brisbane GLG Legal where Mr Saines was the chief executive. It's understood Mr Saines' brother is a senior employee at the firm. '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,' the family added. 'He lived with purpose, passion and drive.' It's understood Mr and Mrs Saines were in Thailand ahead of his 44th birthday on July 18. Police told local media he had paid 400baht, AUD$19, for a one-hour traditional oil massage. Emergency services were called to the shop in Bo Phut about 7am after workers discovered the lawyer wasn't breathing. Initial inquiries suggest the 43-year-old died of heart failure. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong said officers found a ziplock bag containing a white powder, suspected to be cocaine, in Mr Saines' trouser pocket. 'But we can't confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis,' he said. 'From initial field testing using police reagents, it's presumed to be an illegal drug, but we're not sure if it's actually cocaine.' Masseuse Premyupa, 47, told local outlet Thaiger that Mr Saines had arrived at the parlour alone and was walking barefoot. 'After we finished, he said he wanted to lie down and rest. I left him for a while, and when I came back, he was still snoring,' she said. 'It wasn't until much later I realised he wasn't breathing.' Premyupa last heard Mr Saines 'snoring' at about 4am and claimed when she returned to wake him two hours later, he was cold and unconscious. Police and medics from Koh Samui Hospital found him on a narrow bed inside one of the shop's private upstairs rooms. The lawyer was lying horizontally across the bed with his legs dangling over the side. No foam was found around his mouth. Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said police are not treating Mr Saines' death as suspicious. 'There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally,' he said. 'Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible.' While there were no CCTV cameras inside the massage parlour, which offers sexual services, police found footage outside the shop which showed Mr Saines arriving barefoot and carrying a can of beer. Mr Saines' wife was informed of his death at 3pm on Tuesday. His body has been taken to Surat Thani Hospital for post-mortem examination.
West Australian
09-07-2025
- West Australian
Christopher Saines: Aussie lawyer CEO found dead at a Thai massage parlour in Koh Samui
A prominent Australian lawyer has been found dead at a Thai massage parlour, just minutes from the location where cricket legend Shane Warne passed away in 2022. Christopher Saines, the 43-year-old CEO of Brisbane-based law firm GLG Legal, was discovered unresponsive around 6am on Monday at the Siam Touch Massage parlour on the popular tourist island of Koh Samui. Emergency services were called to the shop in Bo Phut, close to the villa where Warne died, around 7am after a masseuse noticed the lawyer wasn't breathing. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong from Bo Phut Police Station said officers found Mr Saines 'lying dead' when they arrived at the parlour near Chaweng Beach. 'He had just finished getting a massage, 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. '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. 'At 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 some time after 4am.' Mr Saines was staying with his family at $4,000-a-night boutique hotel, Villa Mia. Police believe he left the luxury villa around midnight and paid 400 baht ($AU 19) for a one-hour traditional oil massage. Initial inquiries indicate that the lawyer died of heart failure, the Daily Mail reported. Mr Inkong revealed that officers found a zip lock bag in Mr Saines' trouser pocket, containing a white powdered substance. 'We can't confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis,' he said. 'From initial field testing using police reagents, it's presumed to be an illegal drug, but we're not sure if it's actually cocaine.' Mr Inkong said police are not treating Mr Saines' death as suspicious, as there appeared to be no sign of physical struggle or injury. 'Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible,' he said. Mr Saines' wife was informed of her husband's death at 3pm on Tuesday. His body is now at Surat Thani Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Mr Saines has been described as an 'active member of the legal community' in a biography on the GLG website. He was a member of the Queensland Law Society, committee member of the International Bar Association, committee member of Basic Rights, and a board member of Aged Care Review. The Nightly has reached out to GLG Legal for comment.
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Perth Now
Prominent Aussie lawyer found dead at Thai massage parlour
A prominent Australian lawyer has been found dead at a Thai massage parlour, just minutes from the location where cricket legend Shane Warne passed away in 2022. Christopher Saines, the 43-year-old CEO of Brisbane-based law firm GLG Legal, was discovered unresponsive around 6am on Monday at the Siam Touch Massage parlour on the popular tourist island of Koh Samui. Emergency services were called to the shop in Bo Phut, close to the villa where Warne died, around 7am after a masseuse noticed the lawyer wasn't breathing. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong from Bo Phut Police Station said officers found Mr Saines 'lying dead' when they arrived at the parlour near Chaweng Beach. 'He had just finished getting a massage, 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. '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. 'At 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 some time after 4am.' Christopher Saines, the 43-year-old CEO of Brisbane's GLG Legal, has been found unresponsive at a Thai Massage parlour. Credit: Unknown / Supplied Mr Saines was staying with his family at $4,000-a-night boutique hotel, Villa Mia. Police believe he left the luxury villa around midnight and paid 400 baht ($AU 19) for a one-hour traditional oil massage. Initial inquiries indicate that the lawyer died of heart failure, the Daily Mail reported. Mr Inkong revealed that officers found a zip lock bag in Mr Saines' trouser pocket, containing a white powdered substance. 'We can't confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis,' he said. 'From initial field testing using police reagents, it's presumed to be an illegal drug, but we're not sure if it's actually cocaine.' Mr Inkong said police are not treating Mr Saines' death as suspicious, as there appeared to be no sign of physical struggle or injury. 'Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible,' he said. Mr Saines' wife was informed of her husband's death at 3pm on Tuesday. His body is now at Surat Thani Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Mr Saines has been described as an 'active member of the legal community' in a biography on the GLG website. He was a member of the Queensland Law Society, committee member of the International Bar Association, committee member of Basic Rights, and a board member of Aged Care Review. The Nightly has reached out to GLG Legal for comment.
