Christopher Saines, a 43-year-old Australian lawyer and chief executive of Brisbane firm GLG, was found dead at a massage parlour on the Thai island of Koh Samui on 7 Jul 2025.
Police discovered his body at Siam Touch Massage in Bo Phut during the early hours of Monday morning.
Mr Saines had been holidaying with his wife Chantho and their two children on the popular southern island.
Death Follows Traditional Massage Session at Unlicensed Parlour
Mr Saines arrived at the massage parlour alone, barefoot and carrying a can of beer. He opted for a 400 baht (~S$16) traditional oil massage session.
Masseuse Premyupa, 47, completed the one-hour massage at around 1:10am. Mr Saines paid in cash and requested to rest on the bed for a moment. He fell asleep shortly after getting dressed and using the bathroom.
“I went to serve another customer and when I came back around 10 minutes later, he was asleep,” Premyupa told local media outlet Thaiger. She reported that Mr Saines was snoring so loudly that staff had to ask nearby guests if they wanted to change rooms.
The masseuse left him to sleep when the shop closed at 3am. When she returned at 6am to wake him, she found him cold and unresponsive.
“I panicked and called the other staff for help,” Premyupa said. She had last heard him snoring at around 4am and decided not to disturb his sleep.
Police Investigation Reveals Heart Failure and Suspicious Substance
Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong of Bo Phut Police Station confirmed that preliminary investigations suggest Mr Saines died from heart failure. Police found no signs of physical struggle or injuries on his body.
Officers discovered a small ziplock bag containing white powder in Mr Saines’ trouser pocket, suspected to be cocaine. The substance has been sent for laboratory testing, with results expected in a couple of days.
Police found no CCTV cameras inside the massage parlour, but external footage showed Mr Saines arriving without shoes and carrying a beer can. The parlour reportedly also offers sexual services.
Mr Saines was found lying horizontally across a narrow bed with his legs dangling over the side. Police and medics from Koh Samui Hospital pronounced him dead at the scene. His body was taken to Surat Thani Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
The massage parlour, housed in a three-storey commercial building that also contains Samui Green Hotel, only opened in June 2025. Officials are investigating whether the parlour is licensed to operate.
The parlour is not currently listed on Google.
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
