Mysterious Chinese heiress LanLan Yang was a no-show at court again on Friday – and has now been ordered to appear in person as she faces up to seven years in jail.
The elusive mega-wealthy student, 23, allegedly ploughed her $1.5million Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce into Kyle Sandilands‘ chauffeur in a devastating early morning crash.
Yang’s lawyer, eminent barrister John Korn, had indicated Yang would enter a plea in Sydney‘s Downing Centre Court on Friday morning.
Her courtroom was packed with an army of her new-found Chinese-Australian fans who were keen to catch a glimpse of the shadowy socialite.
But instead Mr Korn appeared in court to ask for another adjournment while talks continued ‘with the police hierarchy’ over the charges she faces.
A clearly annoyed deputy court registrar told Mr Korn that Yang ‘was excused on the last occasion by Magistrate (Megan) Greenwood.
‘On 15 November I would expect her to be here,’ said the official.
The court heard there would be a further additional charge against Yang, who Mr Korn said was ‘on standby’ via telephone if she had been needed on Friday.
LanLan Yang (pictured) has been free on bail since first charged and has put on an eye-popping fashion show while reporting to Rose Bay police station as part of her bail conditions
He told the court his client would enter pleas if letters sent to police and conversations with the alleged victim, driver George Plassaras, had an ‘expected result’.
Outside court, Mr Korn described Yang as ‘very shy’ and said she did not face ‘the most serious of charges’.
Mr Korn successfully represented Gao, who was cleared in 2020 and returned to China. Mr Korn said Yang’s charges were not as serious as those relating to sexual assault.
Yang faces a charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm which could put her behind bars if convicted, with a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.
A back-up charge of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm was recently added.
She is also accused of failing to submit to a breath test and not giving her particulars to police.
She has been free on bail since first charged and has put on an eye-popping fashion show while reporting to Rose Bay police station as required by her bail conditions.
On one occasion, she appeared wearing a $16,000 purple Chanel vest, accessorised with a $54,000 vintage white gold Van Cleef and Arpels bracelet
The elusive mega-wealthy student, 23, allegedly ploughed her $1.5million Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce into Kyle Sandilands ‘ chauffeur in a devastating early morning crash
On one occasion, she appeared wearing a $16,000 purple Chanel vest, accessorised with a $54,000 vintage white gold Van Cleef and Arpels bracelet.
But Yang has rarely appeared in person in court, where she risked heavy media coverage.
She has also avoided a crowd of ultra-curious Australian-Chinese ‘fans’ desperate to catch a glimpse of the camera-shy heiress.
The crash took place about 3.20am on July 26 at Rose Bay in Sydney’s ritzy eastern suburbs.
Police allege Yang crossed double yellow lines before the head-on collision with the Mercedes van.
Mr Plassaras was left with devastating injuries including a broken spine, two broken hips and two broken femurs.
He also suffered a ruptured spleen and torn-open abdomen.
‘The injuries are life-changing,’ a source close to the investigation told Daily Mail. ‘This wasn’t just a fender bender. It was catastrophic.’
Yang (left) has ‘rarely appeared in person at court where she risked heavy media coverage and is rarely seen without a facemask on in public
Daily Mail has previously revealed Yang lives in a multimillion-dollar penthouse overlooking Sydney Harbour
She keeps a second Rolls-Royce – a white Ghost convertible worth up to $800,000 – in her garage
Daily Mail has revealed the astonishing details of Yang’s luxury lifestyle since moving to Sydney.
Yang’s Instagram account once featured a visit to Yoshii’s Omakase restaurant at Crown Sydney where she indulged in a $1,000 bottle of Dom Pérignon.
Booking one of the 10 seats there can take more than two years and the Japanese dining experience will set you back a minimum $380 per person.
And in the week before Christmas last year, she was one of the guests when Chanel hosted a private performance of The Nutcracker at the Sydney Opera House.
Big-spending clients and other guests were also treated to dinner at Bennelong restaurant.
Among the ‘Very Very Important Persons’ to receive an invitation were Liam Hemsworth and his partner Gabriella Brooks.
Daily Mail has previously revealed Yang lives in a multimillion-dollar penthouse overlooking Sydney Harbour where she keeps a second Rolls-Royce – a white Ghost convertible worth up to $800,000 – in her garage.
Yang was on the guest list when fashion house Chanel hosted a private performance of The Nutcracker at the Sydney Opera House, as well as dinner at Bennelong. She is pictured at the event
Yang’s Instagram account once featured a visit to Yoshii’s Omakase restaurant at Crown Sydney where she indulged in a $1,000 bottle of Dom Pérignon.
Neighbours said Yang decorated the dashboard of her Rolls-Royce Cullinan with scarce Labubu collectible plush toys.
The vehicle is believed to have cost $1.5million after all options were fitted.
‘We move in the same friend circle and have many mutual friends,’ an acquaintance told Daily Mail.
‘She only socialises within the Chinese community because her English is poor.’
The acquaintance said Yang’s Instagram had been filled with images of her ‘shopping crazy’.
She visited some of the best restaurants in Sydney but was obsessive about obscuring her face in posts.
‘She eats fine dining every single day,’ the acquaintance said of Yang’s life before the collision.
‘She also frequently shops at Chanel and Louis Vuitton, sometimes renting out the entire store for herself.’
Lanlan Yang, wearing her favorite designer Chanel, walks with her driver after reporting for bail in Sydney in July
Yang’s pet dog also lives in finery, with a designer collar blanket and a Louis Vuitton cushion
Another of Yang’s contemporaries said Yang was enrolled in a business course at the University of Sydney.
‘But she never actually goes to school herself,’ the acquaintance said.
Whenever Yang has been seen in public over the past two months she has been dressed head to toe in designer clothing.
She particularly favours Chanel, Hermès and Louis Vuitton.
Her acquaintance said Yang had been invited to Chanel’s performance of The Nutcracker due to the amount of money she spent.
‘Chanel VVIP clients are typically those who spend over one million Australian dollars a year with the brand,’ she said.
Yang’s barrister John Korn said his client’s parents had sent her to Australia to attend school when she was 14.
She had rarely returned to China and was now a permanent resident.
Yang’s Instagram had been filled with images of her ‘shopping crazy’ at exclusive fashion outlets. She is pictured in a Celine fitting room
Neighbours said Yang decorated the dashboard of her Rolls-Royce Cullinan with scarce Labubu collectible plush toys. The vehicle is pictured on Sydney’s Broadway
He also said Yang ‘hardly leaves her home’ and had ‘considerable’ mental health issues.
Yang wears a face mask when she expects to be the subject of attention such as reporting to police.
Her bail conditions initially required her to check in with police three times a week, but this was reduced to once-a-week reporting, along with surrender of her passport.
She must also adhere to a curfew, remaining in her Sydney apartment between 8pm and 6am. Yang is also prohibited from driving any vehicle.
During another visit to Rose Bay cops two months ago, Yang wore a vintage Chanel jacket worth more than $18,000, matched with a $3,000 cap, $1,500 Chanel Camelia pumps and $750 Miu Miu sunglasses.
When Yang’s matter was first listed on August 15, scores of Chinese Australians lined up outside the court complex, desperate to catch a glimpse of her.
One onlooker told Daily Mail: ‘It’s very rare to see someone in person who is ultra wealthy and has power.’
‘You don’t see 23-year-olds who can drive two Rolls-Royces.’
Yang is pictured wearing a vintage Chanel jacket worth more than $18,000, matching $3,000 cap, $1,500 Chanel Camelia pumps and $750 Miu Miu sunglasses
Speculation about Yang has surged in China, where wildly inaccurate claims have circulated on platforms such as Douyin and Weibo, as well as in mainstream media
Yang has not made any comment about the crash.
She has not appeared in person either time her case has been mentioned in court.
Friday’s plea hearing was set down after Ms Najm granted Mr Korn a three-week adjournment to allow more time to prepare his client’s defence because he had only met Yang on September 23.
The acting deputy registrar had made it clear at the previous hearing that Yang must make a formal plea at Friday’s hearing.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.