Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

UPDATE

 

A late-night massage on Koh Samui has ended in tragedy and mystery for Australian lawyer Christopher Saines, found dead with a suspicious bag of white powder. The 43-year-old CEO of GLG Legal in Brisbane was discovered unresponsive at Siam Touch Massage parlour in Bo Phut at around 6 am on Monday.

 

Saines had reportedly left his 130,000 baht (£3,000) per night Villa Mia for a 400 baht (£9) oil massage. The prominent solicitor is believed to have suffered a heart attack, but police found a ziplock bag with a white substance in his trousers.

 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong stated, "We can’t confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis." Preliminary tests suggest it might be an illegal drug, possibly cocaine. More conclusive results are pending.

 

Arriving alone and barefoot shortly after midnight, carrying a can of beer, Saines requested a traditional oil massage, security footage shows. The 47-year-old masseuse, Premyupa, recounted, "He wanted to lie down and rest after the massage."

 

Initially observed snoring, he was found unresponsive two hours later. Paramedics confirmed he was cold to the touch with no foam around his mouth or signs of struggle, according to Lieutenant Colonel Inkong.

 

“There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either," he assured. Surveillance cameras from outside the venue captured Saines entering barefoot.

 

Saines' body has been transferred to Surat Thani Hospital for a post-mortem examination, as Thai police await autopsy and toxicology results, expected in several days. His wife, Chantho, who manages GLG Legal, was informed of his death on Tuesday afternoon. It’s reported that Saines’ brother holds a senior position at the firm.

 

GLG Legal paid tribute to Saines, describing him as "a remarkable person," highlighting his dedication to his family, including his wife and two young children.

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is involved, providing assistance to the family during this difficult time.

 

As the investigation unfolds, the legal community remembers Saines as a "warm, loving, and caring person," while questions about the mysterious circumstances of his death remain unanswered.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-09

 

 

This has been reported in Australian news stations comparing it to Shane Warnes death not a good look for koh Samui Surat but drugs and massages aren't a good combination no matter where you are from

It was my impression that all lawyers carry cocaine with them wherever they go

I wonder if he'd recently had a covid-19 booster jab. I also wondered this about Shane Warne.  

Why is this report tagged as 'crime'.  This sounds like just another druggie self-inflicted death....

12 hours ago, angryguy said:

It was my impression that all lawyers carry cocaine with them wherever they go

That's "painting" with a very broad brush.

Not really a happy ending massage 🥴

Weird story. Walking around barefoot at midnight and getting "massages" on the 2nd floor in the early hours of the morning. Meanwhile has a partner and a family. Sounds like the James O'Keefe of lawyers.

There's a Thai man that stands on the corner of the soi to Arkbar that offers literally everyone walking by cocaine openly.

He offered it to me the other day and is also mentioned in reviews of the area. 

If you buy from him without getting instantly scammed and locked up then maybe you will drop dead from putting unknown white powder up your nose.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Saines had reportedly left his 130,000 baht (£3,000) per night Villa Mia

Yikes....

did he have a smile on his face ?

Wandering about Samui after midnight, barefoot, carrying a can of beer, seeking a massage, and later found dead with a bag containing a white substance in his trousers. Doesn't entirely fit the image of a dedicated family man.

5 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Wandering about Samui after midnight, barefoot, carrying a can of beer, seeking a massage, and later found dead with a bag containing a white substance in his trousers. Doesn't entirely fit the image of a dedicated family man.

Quite. And staying - presumably alone - in his 130,000฿ per night villa ...

Guessing heart attack if it was cocaine or if it wasn't then some dodgy mix that was meant to be sold as cocaine or it had fentanyl in it.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The prominent solicitor is believed to have suffered a heart attack, but police found a ziplock bag with a white substance in his trousers.

 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong stated, "We can’t confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis." Preliminary tests suggest it might be an illegal drug, possibly cocaine. More conclusive results are pending.

Just dip your little finger in, or the tip of a knife, and then lick it, seen it on all the best US detective shows !!

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Saines had reportedly left his 130,000 baht (£3,000) per night Villa Mia

Yikes....

 

Then going for a £9 massage.  Double yikes.

 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Saines had reportedly left his 130,000 baht (£3,000) per night Villa Mia for a 400 baht (£9) oil massage

 

Entire family, er Law Firm were staying there.

Legal business expense.

That handjob really pulled it out of him

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

his 130,000 baht (£3,000) per night Villa Mia

 

This confirms my suspicion that lawyers get paid too much.

hope it wasn't a disagreement with a Hamburger

Adult sudden death syndrome is not uncommon

smart enough to become a lawyer, stupid enough to take drugs.

 

What am I missing?

17 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I wonder if he'd recently had a covid-19 booster jab. I also wondered this about Shane Warne.  

 

As the article below points out: 

 

Quote

there was a post-mortem, and this led to his cause of death being described as ‘coronary artery atherosclerosis’. In layman’s terms, it means that he had a build-up of gunk in the plumbing around his heart, and that one day it became blocked and he had a heart attack.

 

The truth behind Warne and the Covid vaccine

 

https://www.sacricketmag.com/the-truth-behind-warne-and-covid-vaccine/

 

There have been various claims about the harms that might result from Covid shots (many unproven and  unfounded) but I have never seen it claimed that Covid vaccinations could cause atherosclerosis.

Is there a photo of Chanto?

She may need comforting and emotional support?

And she apparently has money, especially now.

And no mention in any of the Aussie newspapers'

17 hours ago, simon43 said:

Why is this report tagged as 'crime'.  This sounds like just another druggie self-inflicted death....

Maybe because it is a crime to pay a 130,000 thb a NIGHT for a Thai hotel?

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Saines had reportedly left his 130,000 baht (£3,000) per night Villa Mia for a 400 baht (£9) oil massage.

 

This string of words alone is proof enough this is a 1000% psyop.

 

NOBODY walks out their luxury villa for no ghetto massage.

 

Straight up bullship.

33 minutes ago, Straight8 said:

What am I missing?

 

That the whole shebang is a psyop.

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Quite. And staying - presumably alone - in his 130,000฿ per night villa ...

 

Initial report said he was staying with his family.

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Quite. And staying - presumably alone - in his 130,000฿ per night villa ...

News reports are that he was staying with his family 

56 minutes ago, Dexxter said:

 

This confirms my suspicion that lawyers get paid too much.

 

It’s not that much for a family holiday for the founding partner of a decent sized law firm. I mean I’d be shocked if he was making less than $1.2m per annum 

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

More conclusive results are pending.

OK. While we are waiting will you please release the conclusive results that you have now?😋