Police in Hong Kong arrested a 23-year-old who posed as a lawyer, ran up a huge bill on a luxury dinner and left his date to pay it. The suspect, identified only by her surname Wong, left the woman to pay the extravagant restaurant bill of more than HK$80,000 ( ₹9 lakh).
Wong, was taken into custody in Tseung Kwan O on suspicion of obtaining property by deception. Officers also seized clothing believed to have been worn during the incident. He remains under investigation by the Central District crime unit, according to a report in The Standard.
A lavish meal at Mandarin Oriental
According to police, the case stemmed from a complaint filed by a woman who met the suspect through the messaging app Telegram a year ago. Wong had allegedly introduced himself as a lawyer before arranging to meet her for dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central on Thursday evening.
During the lavish meal, the pair ordered a bottle of Krug Clos d’Ambonnay champagne valued at more than HK$70,000, along with premium set dinners priced at HK$2,388 each. Including tea and service charges, the bill came to HK$84,453.60.
The disappearing act
However, when the time came to settle the bill, the ‘lawyer’ got up saying he needed to use the washroom and disappeared.
{{/usCountry}}However, when the time came to settle the bill, the ‘lawyer’ got up saying he needed to use the washroom and disappeared.
{{/usCountry}}“According to [the woman], the man arranged a bottle of wine for their dinner. As they were almost finished with their courses, he said he needed to use the washroom and has not returned since,” the police source was quoted as saying by South China Morning Post.
“[The woman] tried to contact him, but in vain. She subsequently sought help from friends who helped her foot the HK$80,000 bill and reported it to police.”
The woman initially told officers she did not require further assistance when she first filed a report on Thursday. However, she returned the following day (Aug 29) to lodge another complaint, prompting police to make the arrest.