Chinese heiress Lanlan Yang to fight charges after crashing her $1 million Rolls-Royce
Mysterious Chinese heiress Lanlan Yang has entered her pleas on charges after she crashed her $1 million Rolls-Royce.
Mysterious Chinese heiress Lanlan Yang will fight police charges after she crashed her $1 million Rolls-Royce.
Yang’s vehicle crashed head-on with a Mercedes that was being driven by George Plassaras, a chauffeur to radio host Kyle Sandilands, early on the morning of July 26.
Mr Plassaras received horrific injuries, breaking his spine, ribs, both hips and both femurs in the crash on New South Head Road in Rose Bay.
Yang, 23, was initially charged with causing bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle and refuse or fail to submit to breath analysis.
Police later laid two additional charges: dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and not giving particulars to police.
Yang’s matter was mentioned on Friday in Sydney’s Downing Centre Court, where her lawyer John Korn entered not guilty pleas to all four charges.
The young woman’s case had previously attracted droves of onlookers to the courthouse, but Friday’s mention was relatively quiet, and Yang herself did not appear.
The case was adjourned to January 30.
Who is Lanlan Yang?
Yang was uninjured in the July crash and has been bailed to her penthouse apartment in Sydney’s east, where she owns a second Rolls-Royce, while the case moves through the courts.
Chinese Australians are following the case with interest - curious about who Yang is and the source of her lavish wealth.
About 100 people crowded into the John Madison Tower at Sydney’s Downing Centre for Yang’s first court appearance in August, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
One attendee, Tony Zhou, said speculation was rife that the 23-year-old was related to a Chinese CCP official.
“The question we focus on is, which top leader’s granddaughter or great-granddaughter she is?In China many top families’ offspring immigrate to Australia,” Mr Zhou told news.com.au.
Rumours also swirled online that Yang is related to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Sheng Xue, a Canadian-Chinese journalist and activist, claimed that Yang was seen visiting Xi’s mother, Qi Xin, at a Shenzhen hotel earlier this year.
Ms Xue described Qi Xin as Yang’s “grandmother... who looks strikingly similar to her and dotes on her”.
Yang’s bail conditions included that she not drive a car or leave her penthouse between the hours of 8pm to 6am.
Registration data for her Rolls-Royce Cullinan showed it was a 2025 model, which can retail for more than $1 million.
The car was insured at the time.
If found guilty, she may also be ordered to pay Mr Plassaras’ medical and vehicle costs.
After the crash she was filmed being escorted from the scene in a luxury outfit that appeared to include Chanel shoes, a Chanel two-piece and a Miu Miu bucket hat, possibly totalling $5,000.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by her relatives.
harrison.christian@news.com.au
