Hong Kong ‘lawyer’ arrested for allegedly leaving date with over HK$80,000 bill

Hong Kong police have arrested a man for allegedly tricking 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 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

A police source said the woman met the man, who claimed to be a 26-year-old lawyer, through 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 said she did not need police assistance when she first filed a report to police on Thursday, the force said. 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.