How mysterious Chinese heiress LanLan Yang has been excused from showing her face in court SEVEN TIMES - as she makes major move on drink-driving charges
- LanLan Yang to be excused from court again
- She's entered a plea of not guilty on two charges
- READ MORE: Aussie cop LOSES IT at mystery Chinese heiress LanLan Yang
A magistrate has allowed mysterious Chinese heiress LanLan Yang to again avoid showing her face in court and excused her from court for a sixth and seventh time.
She was again a no-show in court on Friday when her lawyer entered not-guilty pleas to two charges linked to her alleged crash with Kyle Sandilands’ chauffeur last July.
The 23-year-old had been excused from attending Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court for her seventh court hearing relating to the crash.
She has only appeared in court in person once since her initial arrest, with her absence excused on five separate occasions, and once she appeared by videolink.
She faces serious charges and possible jail if found guilty after her $1.5million Tiffany-blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan allegedly slammed into a Mercedes van in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The van was being driven by George Plassaras, a long-time chauffeur to radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands, who suffered life-changing injuries in the collision and may never work again.
On Friday the magistrate gave her permission not to appear in court for either of her next two court hearings.
Her solicitor Michael Korn told the court on Friday that his client would plead not guilty to charges of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driving with a mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol.
LanLan Yang put on an uncharacteristically leggy display while reporting for bail about 20 minutes before deadline
LanLan Yang is facing a raft of serious charges that could land her behind bars, after her $1.5million Tiffany-blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan allegedly slammed into a Mercedes van in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
Yang has already pleaded not guilty to other offences, including refusing or failing to submit to a breath analysis, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous, failing to give particulars to police, and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, with many listed as first offences.
Magistrate Susan Horan approved Mr Korn’s request for Yang to be excused from her next court date on March 31.
The prosecutor asked for six weeks to deal with Yang’s additional charges, after she entered a plea today.
The latest development comes after Yang admitted earlier this month that she breached her bail conditions by vacating her Watsons Bay address, a move first revealed by Daily Mail.
Her barrister Greg Stanton insisted the breach was not her fault.
‘There’s an explanation, it doesn’t attribute any great fault to her,’ Mr Stanton told the court.
‘There was a miscommunication … an assumption was made.’
The case has fuelled widespread intrigue due to Yang’s apparent wealth, which includes a fleet of luxury vehicles and head-to-toe designer outfits whenever she has been photographed.
Her solicitor Michael Korn told the court on Friday that his client would plead not guilty to a series of charges
Under her bail conditions, Yang is required to report once a week at Rose Bay police station, less than 2km from the scene of the collision, every Wednesday between 8am and 8pm.
Last week she strutted down Wunulla Road like it was a catwalk - putting on an uncharacteristically leggy display for onlookers - about 20 minutes before deadline.
She is now understood to be living in a high-rise apartment in Sydney’s inner city and has more recently been chauffeured around in a Tesla Model X.
The crash with Mr Plassaras's van has given Yang an almost celebrity-like profile, particularly among Chinese Australians intrigued by her unexplained wealth.
Chinese social media is awash with speculation about Yang's family, with unverified suggestions she is related to various senior Communist Party figures.
The Daily Mail had a bizarre exchange with Yang on January 15.
Reporter: 'Are you LanLan or someone else?'
Woman: 'I'm someone else.'
The van was being driven by George Plassaras (pictured) a long-time chauffeurwho suffered life-changing injuries in the collision and may never work again
LanLan seen leaving Waverly police station following her arrest
Reporter: 'Do you want to tell me who you are if you're not LanLan?'
Woman: 'No.'
The Daily Mail reported in mid October that Yang appeared to have moved out of the Watsons Bay apartment and that her spare Rolls-Royce was gone.
Yang has only been photographed once without a face mask, while dining with a friend at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay in September.
She was filmed by a television crew not wearing a mask when leaving Waverley police station after being granted bail on the morning of the crash six months ago.
Last week she had a sobering encounter with a no-nonsense cop who refused to talk to her unless she removed the face mask she rarely takes off in public.
Arriving in a chauffeur-driven Tesla pulled up outside Glebe police station in the city's inner-west after Yang, or her driver, had called ahead to say she was in fear of her safety.
The Daily Mail understands an officer at Glebe police made enquiries with his Rose Bay counterparts about Yang before addressing her complaint.
A uniformed sergeant came out and asked Yang to wind down the car window so he could speak to her.
Yang lowered the window briefly then rolled it back up.
'Can I see your face?' the sergeant said. 'How can I tell who I'm talking to? You could be anybody in a mask. That's my concern.
'What are you worried about? My concern is that you are not who you are saying you are. I can't hear a word you're saying.'
Yang agreed to accompany the sergeant into the station, where she produced identification, and left 30 minutes after arriving with no action being taken against anyone.
The matter is next due before the Downing Centre Local Court on March 31.
