Police in Sydney have launched a formal investigation into the true identity of a mysterious Chinese heiress, after a woman presenting herself as the accused made a startling admission to reporters that she was 'someone else'.
A High-Value Crash and Mounting Mystery
The case centres on LanLan Yang, a 23-year-old Chinese national and permanent resident, who is facing serious charges after her $1.5 million Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan collided with a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz van in Rose Bay, Sydney, in the early hours of 26 July last year.
The chauffeur, George Plassaras, suffered life-changing injuries including a broken spine, shattered hips, and a ruptured spleen, and may never work again. Yang has pleaded not guilty to four offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.
Discrepancies and a Startling Admission
Since the crash, Yang has become a reclusive figure, rarely seen outside of her mandatory bail reporting at Rose Bay police station. She consistently appears in designer clothing but with her face obscured by a mask and large sunglasses. However, observers have noted potential discrepancies in her appearance and behaviour over time.
This week, the mystery deepened profoundly. When confronted by the Daily Mail after reporting to police on Wednesday, the woman who had just identified herself as Yang gave an apparently frank response. Asked if she was the multimillionaire heiress, she replied, 'I'm someone else.' When pressed to reveal her real identity, she refused.
This admission has prompted Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command to open an investigation. A senior police source stated, 'We are taking this very seriously because what's being alleged would be a very serious offence, or offences.' The probe will examine both the identity of the woman reporting for bail and whether Yang is actually living at her Watsons Bay penthouse as required by her bail conditions.
Unanswered Questions and a Life of Obscured Luxury
The woman on Wednesday exhibited behaviour inconsistent with previous sightings of Yang. Unlike the heiress, who has consistently run from media and refused to speak, this woman stopped to answer questions calmly. She also arrived in a different vehicle—a black Rolls-Royce Ghost convertible driven by a tattooed man—and was carrying an iPhone, whereas Yang was seen with a Samsung phone in October.
Notably, the Ghost's vehicle identification number matches the last four digits of an unregistered white Rolls-Royce Ghost convertible Yang previously kept in her apartment garage. Yang's unexplained wealth and elusive nature have fuelled intense speculation, particularly within Sydney's Chinese Australian community, where she gained an almost celebrity-like status following the crash.
Yang's lawyer has previously revealed she was sent to Australia for school at age 14, suffers from 'considerable' mental health issues, and 'hardly leaves her home'. She has never appeared in person for her five court mentions, attending only once via video link. Her passport has been surrendered.
The only time Yang has been photographed without a face mask was in September, dining at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Comparisons between that image and those released after the crash have led some to note differences in facial features, age, gait, and demeanour.
Police confirm that during bail reporting, the woman lowers her mask so officers can compare her features to an image on file. Yang's lawyer has not responded to requests for comment on the new investigation. Yang is next due to appear in court later this month.
