Kiwis busted in Thailand for 2-year-old unpaid restaurant bill

Two Kiwis arrested for a historical dine-and-dash in a Thai holiday town when they returned this week have settled their bill.

Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his son Luke, 24, were detained by immigration officers when they arrived at Phuket airport on Monday night local time.

Lieutenant Colonel Suthichai Tienpo, told the Phuket Gazette the pair were wanted on a warrant of arrest issued on November 27, 2013.

The warrant alleged the father and son had walked out of the Blue Marine Resort and Spa without paying a 15,000 baht food and beverage bill - almost $NZD660.

"Immigration flagged the pair on arrival, so it was easy enough for us to come up and serve the arrest warrant," Mr Sutthichai told the Gazette.

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

Patong Police Captain Yingyong Chuoykij told the paper that both sides preferred to negotiate than go to a court.

"The settlement was made yesterday evening. The two men agreed to pay the bill, while the resort's representative agreed to drop the charges after the money was received."

Once the bill was settled, the pair were released.

Mr Chuoykij said the case was not serious.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed its embassy in Bangkok provided consular advice to two New Zealanders arrested in Phuket, and that the pair had been released.