Hong Kong ‘lawyer’ arrested for allegedly leaving date with HK$80,000 bill
Woman says she was forced to pay bill after man vanished during washroom break at Man Wah restaurant in Mandarin Oriental hotel
Hong Kong police have arrested a man who allegedly tricked his date into footing a restaurant bill of more than HK$80,000 (US$10,264) after he went to the bathroom and never returned to the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
A police source said the woman met the man, who claimed to be a 26-year-old lawyer, through the messaging app Telegram a year ago, adding that they arranged a date at the hotel in Central on Thursday evening.
“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 source said.
“[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 police that she did not need help when she first filed a report on Thursday, according to the force. But she submitted another report the following day.
Officers then arrested a 23-year-old local man surnamed Wong in Tseung Kwan O for allegedly obtaining property by deception on Friday evening and seized the clothes the suspect wore that night. As of Saturday, the man remained in custody for investigation.