A Hong Kong man was recently arrested after allegedly orchestrating an elaborate “dine and dash” that left his date saddled with a restaurant bill of nearly S$14,000.
The 23-year-old suspect, surnamed Wong, had met his 31-year-old date through Telegram, where he reportedly claimed to be a lawyer. On 28 August, the pair dined at Man Wah, a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. According to reports, Wong excused himself to the restroom during the meal and never returned, leaving his companion unable to pay the exorbitant bill.
Lavish meal with luxury champagne
The restaurant receipt revealed that the pair had ordered two premium set dinners priced at about S$390 per person, featuring delicacies such as wagyu beef, bird’s nest, and abalone. They also ordered aged Pu’er tea and, most significantly, a bottle of rare 2002 Krug Clos d’Ambonnay champagne worth S$11,800.
With a 10 per cent service charge added, the total bill came to HK$84,453.60 (about S$13,900). Unable to cover the amount, the woman had to call a friend for help before reporting the matter to the police later that night.
Possible premeditation suspected
Investigations revealed that Wong had contacted the restaurant in advance to enquire about the availability of the champagne, raising suspicions that the move was carefully planned. Industry insiders suggested the incident bore signs of a targeted scam rather than a spontaneous act.
While the woman initially told police she only wanted records of the case, she later filed another report, prompting authorities to classify the matter as potential fraud. Wong was subsequently arrested the following day in Tseung Kwan O on suspicion of obtaining property by deception.
Previous convictions raise alarm
Further scrutiny showed that Wong had only recently been released from prison after serving a sentence of nearly three years for sexual offences committed during his teenage years. These crimes were also linked to online dating encounters.
Although Wong has since been released on bail, he is required to report back to police later this month. For now, no formal charges have been filed, but the case has reignited discussions in Hong Kong about online dating risks, financial scams, and the vulnerability of individuals lured into such extravagant traps.