Hong Kong ‘lawyer’ bailed in HK$80,000 champagne dinner dine-and-dash case

Hong Kong police have granted bail to a man who allegedly pretended to be a lawyer and tricked his date into paying a restaurant bill of more than HK$80,000 (US$10,258).

The 23-year-old man, surnamed Wong, who was arrested on suspicion of obtaining property by deception, was released on bail on Sunday but must report back to police in late September, the force said. No charges have been filed against him.

Social media has been filled with users expressing their opinions on the issue, while legal experts said that if the case went to court the prosecution would need to prove that the suspect had told the woman beforehand that he intended to pay the bill.

The case arose from a dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel’s Man Wah restaurant, during which the man, claiming to be a 26-year-old lawyer, ran up a bill of HK$80,000 with his unsuspecting date.

A police source earlier said that the woman met the man through the messaging app Telegram a year ago, and they arranged a date at the hotel in Central on Thursday evening.

The source added that according to the woman, the man ordered a bottle of wine for their dinner. As they were nearly finished with their courses, he said he needed to use the washroom and did not return.