New Zealand father and son arrested at Phuket Airport over Patong restaurant bill

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New Zealand father and son arrested at Phuket Airport over Patong restaurant bill
Eakkapop Thongtub


New Zealanders Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his son Luke, 24, were arrested on arrival at Phuket Airport last night. Photo: Kathu Police

PHUKET: -- A New Zealand father and his son were taken into custody on arrival at Phuket International Airport last night (Sept 14) and presented with a warrant for their arrest for failing to pay a bill at a Patong restaurant two years ago.

Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his son Luke, 24, were detained by immigration officers at about 10:30pm, and handed over to the Kathu Police, who were waiting for them.

“They were wanted on a warrant of arrest issued on November 27, 2013. The warrant syas they were wanted for cheating on a food-and beverage-bill,” said Kathu Police investigator Suthichai Tienpo.

The warrant detailed that the alleged cheating on the bill occurred at The Blue Marine Resort and Spa, Phrabaramee Road, in Patong, at 3pm on September 5, 2013, he added.

“Both of them accepted that they were same persons wanted on the arrest warrant, but , they denied the complaint,” Lt Col Suthichai said.

Mr Finn and son were both taken to Kathu Police Station for questioning.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/new-zealand-father-and-son-arrested-at-phuket-airport-over-patong-restaurant-bill-54122.php


-- Phuket News 2015-09-16

[NOC]

Ahh, a new twist...

Our scams are now retroactive, with police support of course.

One more nail in the tourist coffin, Thailand. At least you've found some degree of consistency.

[meatboy]

i think everyone should read the review's on this place before commenting,2out of 3 that i read,cheated,very very unfreindly.

the first being 2yrs.ago must have been a bad yr.for them.

[Inn Between]

That restaurant owner must have some big connections. Immigration officers plus 4 Kathu police needed to get these criminals. I would also want to pose proudly behind these hardened criminals and smile knowing that I've made Thailand a safer place. After all, it's a well known fact that those who are accused of cheating on a restaurant bill are likely to kill.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Inn Between

[Kerryd]

Nothing "retroactive" about it. The arrest warrant was issued in 2013 after they (allegedly) skipped on their bill. They returned in 2015 and were caught. No different than if a warrant was issued today but the suspect isn't caught until 2+ years later.

Unless you are trying to suggest that walking out on a restaurant bill isn't a scam but being arrested and held accountable for doing so is ?

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

[manarak]

Ahh, a new twist...

Our scams are now retroactive, with police support of course.

One more nail in the tourist coffin, Thailand. At least you've found some degree of consistency.

and you write this without even knowing if they are guilty or innocent of leaving without paying their bill?

[inzman]

Treating tourist like this will certainly have an impact on tourism.

[Howitzer]

Ahh, a new twist...

Our scams are now retroactive, with police support of course.

One more nail in the tourist coffin, Thailand. At least you've found some degree of consistency.

and you write this without even knowing if they are guilty or innocent of leaving without paying their bill?

that is because those arrested are farang let's suppose they were Chinese tourists suddenly the Thais get applauded

[Howitzer]

Treating tourist like this will certainly have an impact on tourism.

I agree tourists shouldn't have to pay the bills

[LivinginKata]

<snip>

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

PG reports it was 15,000 baht for food and beverage, so quite a substantial bill.

[meatboy]

<snip>

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

PG reports it was 15,000 baht for food and beverage, so quite a substantial bill.

if it was that amount WHY werent they stopped on checking out? or at the airport.

hotels have their names and passport no's.and maybe their credit card info.

Edited September 16, 2015 by meatboy

[Kerryd]

<snip>

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

PG reports it was 15,000 baht for food and beverage, so quite a substantial bill.

if it was that amount WHY werent they stopped on checking out? or at the airport.

hotels have their names and passport no's.and maybe their credit card info.

From another source:

"Lt Col Sutthichai said. "They skipped out on the bill and managed to leave the country before we could take action. Luckily, they returned to Phuket.”

Which wouldn't be unusual.

I recall 2 cases (that made the news) off the top of my head where people skipped on their bills and got out of the country before anyone realized it.

I suspect that there are probably dozens of cases of people skipping on their bills all over the country on a regular basis. We've already had threads about how people end up down and out here. Holiday ending, short on cash, leaving the next day, etc. etc. These 2 probably thought that after 2 years nobody would remember them. It'd be a hoot to learn they'd booked rooms in the same place (nah, they wouldn't dare, would they ?).

BTW apparently neither side wants to go to court so they are apparently negotiating a settlement at the police station.

[jalansanitwong]

Obviously everyone should pay their bills but i dont see any jet ski thugs or big drug dealers being hauled in for photo ops.. They've all paid off the cops. The tourists get arrested for trivial matters.

Foreigners will always cop the full force of Thai law and money must change hands.

Tourists are such an easy target for the police and immigration. Pay now.

[Shot]

So, they did a "Dine and Dash" for 15k. They have probably been patting each other on the back for the past two years and now it caught up to them. Dumb asses.

Edited September 16, 2015 by Shot

[meatboy]

i wonder did the hotel keep the signed for receipts.

[captspectre]

Nothing "retroactive" about it. The arrest warrant was issued in 2013 after they (allegedly) skipped on their bill. They returned in 2015 and were caught. No different than if a warrant was issued today but the suspect isn't caught until 2+ years later.

Unless you are trying to suggest that walking out on a restaurant bill isn't a scam but being arrested and held accountable for doing so is ?

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

the computers ust have been working! otherwise how did they know that the two bums were returning?

[zaphod reborn]

Nothing "retroactive" about it. The arrest warrant was issued in 2013 after they (allegedly) skipped on their bill. They returned in 2015 and were caught. No different than if a warrant was issued today but the suspect isn't caught until 2+ years later.

Unless you are trying to suggest that walking out on a restaurant bill isn't a scam but being arrested and held accountable for doing so is ?

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

Exactly, an inflated bill and that's why this restaurant has been previously accused of cheating customers. Another Thailand scam.

[glegolo]

Some people are really stupid, I applaude their capture... such a"holes....

And the comments here where where they say that tourism will suffer an negative effect because if this..... Such idiots there are really!!

Glegolo

[chrissables]

Am i missing something? How did the restaurant know their full names etc, or were that at a hotel restaurant they were staying in?

[Deli]

Kill someone, have money and / or be HiSo and you walk.

Maybe cheat on a Restaurant, you go to the Monkey House.

TiT...

[2fishin2]

Nothing "retroactive" about it. The arrest warrant was issued in 2013 after they (allegedly) skipped on their bill. They returned in 2015 and were caught. No different than if a warrant was issued today but the suspect isn't caught until 2+ years later.

Unless you are trying to suggest that walking out on a restaurant bill isn't a scam but being arrested and held accountable for doing so is ?

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

You are so wrong. This is Thailand where money buys these kind of things. Seriously, how about the guy who got blacklisted when he went toe to toe with a student who stole his writings and was blacklisted. The "student" had legal charges against himself and still managed to pay off an immigration official to blacklist the professor.

No way in hell does a person rack up a 15000 baht restaurant bill in Thailand unless hes at the top of the Conrad Hilton in BKK, it just isnt possible. And to blacklist a person for an "ALLEGED" crime, not substantiated is typical of the crazy tactics used in the country. Great example of the madness is the KT trial going on right now where the police are using DNA that does not match to try and convict innocent people.

You need to think about the whole picture before you spout off with your comments. They are incorrect.

[lostoday]

i think everyone should read the review's on this place before commenting,2out of 3 that i read,cheated,very very unfreindly.

the first being 2yrs.ago must have been a bad yr.for them.

Is this the place?

[lostoday]

Nothing "retroactive" about it. The arrest warrant was issued in 2013 after they (allegedly) skipped on their bill. They returned in 2015 and were caught. No different than if a warrant was issued today but the suspect isn't caught until 2+ years later.

Unless you are trying to suggest that walking out on a restaurant bill isn't a scam but being arrested and held accountable for doing so is ?

Must have been a fairly substantial bill for the restaurant to file a complaint and an arrest warrant to be issued.

You are so wrong. This is Thailand where money buys these kind of things. Seriously, how about the guy who got blacklisted when he went toe to toe with a student who stole his writings and was blacklisted. The "student" had legal charges against himself and still managed to pay off an immigration official to blacklist the professor.

No way in hell does a person rack up a 15000 baht restaurant bill in Thailand unless hes at the top of the Conrad Hilton in BKK, it just isnt possible. And to blacklist a person for an "ALLEGED" crime, not substantiated is typical of the crazy tactics used in the country. Great example of the madness is the KT trial going on right now where the police are using DNA that does not match to try and convict innocent people.

You need to think about the whole picture before you spout off with your comments. They are incorrect.

I think this is the place. Google images.

[AlQaholic]

The article does not give any details, but one possible scenario (I am not saying this is the case) would be; you go into this fancy seafood restaurant on your last day in Phuket to have a nice time before going bck home....Having seen the menu you decide for a couple of lobsters, a grilled fish, some nice wine etc....

Then the bill arrives at 20,000 Baht and you say <deleted> you and walk away......

[lostoday]

The article does not give any details, but one possible scenario (I am not saying this is the case) would be; you go into this fancy seafood restaurant on your last day in Phuket to have a nice time before going bck home....Having seen the menu you decide for a couple of lobsters, a grilled fish, some nice wine etc....

Then the bill arrives at 20,000 Baht and you say F#$%K you and walk away......

The Blue Marine Resort and Spa quoted in the OP is a big hotel I think isn't it? Not to get in the way of a good Thai bash of course......

[darhut]

Typical kiwis always after a free feed. But seriously no one here knows the full story so to comment is just speculation. Sounds like they were staying there if they had all their details, might just be the food bill was not added on at check out.

[thhMan]

Ok... they didnt pay the bill and where caught 2 years later...

But did it really warrant a photo op like this?

Just makes the Police out to be petty

[Crash999]

i think everyone should read the review's on this place before commenting,2out of 3 that i read,cheated,very very unfreindly.

the first being 2yrs.ago must have been a bad yr.for them.

You sure you used Google correctly?

This is Centara's resort and is managed by a farang. If you Google it and read the Tripadvisor reports it's mostly good with the people who complained about the hotel talking about other stuff like insects and housekeeping.

[robblok]

All these guys here complaining that they got arrested and Thais get away with it. That is besides the point they cheated and did not pay a bill. This is a bad offence, I run a business and its real bad when a customer refuses to pay a bill. Shows a lot about the morals of the foreigners here.

However in the past I have seen many stories about foreigners running up bank debts and then moving here never paying up. So it says a lot about the kind of foreigners that come here. Supporting theft and such.

Sure Thais need to be prosecuted too but that does not mean these guys should get a free pas.

[reggaebkk]

Thieves? Hang'em!