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LanLan Yang is hit with another charge after the wealthy young Chinese heiress allegedly crashed her Rolls-Royce into a chauffer’s Mercedes

LanLan Yang allegedly crashed Rolls-Royce

Mystery surrounds the 23-year-old heiress

READ MORE: LanLan enjoys a long harbourside lunch

By STEPHEN GIBBS, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and LUCY MANLY, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 15:19 BST, 25 September 2025 | Updated: 15:31 BST, 25 September 2025

The mysterious Chinese heiress accused of causing catastrophic injuries to a chauffeur by crashing her $1.5million Rolls-Royce into his Mercedes van has been hit with yet another criminal charge.

When camera-shy LanLan Yang first faced court last month she was charged with causing bodily harm by misconduct and refusing or failing to submit to a breath test.

Four days later she was charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – an offence which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail – and not giving particulars to police.

On Tuesday, the 23-year-old was notified that police were now accusing her of a fifth offence over the collision in Sydney’s east: negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Hundreds turn up outside court to see rich mystery heiress LanLan

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Yang was allegedly behind the wheel of her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the early hours of July 26 at Rose Bay when she smashed into a Mercedes van driven by chauffeur George Plassaras.

Plassaras, who regularly ferried radio king Kyle Sandilands around town, was taken to hospital with serious injuries including multiple fractures to his hips, legs and spine.

The Daily Mail revealed last week that 52-year-old Mr Plassaras might never work again and was being treated at a rehab facility in the eastern suburbs.

Yang, who is on bail and lives at Watson’s Bay in the city’s east, has gone viral in Australia and China over her extraordinary designer wardrobe and apparently enormous wealth.

Mysterious Chinese heiress LanLan Yang, who is accused of causing catastrophic injuries to a chauffeur by crashing her $1.5million Rolls-Royce into his Mercedes van, has been hit with yet another criminal charge

LanLan Yang (left) was allegedly behind the wheel of her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the early hours of July 26 at Rose Bay when she smashed into chauffeur George Plassaras

Her mystique grew after the Daily Mail revealed she kept a second Rolls-Royce in the car park of her luxury apartment.

Scores of curious spectators queued up at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court to see Yang when her case was first mentioned on August 15.

But the defendant disappointed her huge new fan base by being a no-show in person and appearing by video link from her lawyer’s office.

Masses of observers filled the courtroom and spilled into the foyer as Yang appeared briefly on screen wearing a chic designer bucket hat and tailored suit.

Her lawyer, Zile Yu, said Yang was not in a position to enter pleas because ‘the police have indicated there will be additional charges’.

Court records show two additional charges were added on August 19 and another on September 23.

Yang’s case has sparked particular interest among Chinese Australians who are fascinated by her background.

One onlooker at her first court appearance told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s very rare to see, or have the opportunity to see, someone in person who is ultra wealthy and has power.’

Yang, who is on bail and lives at Watson’s Bay in the city’s east, has gone viral in Australia and China over her extraordinary designer wardrobe and apparently enormous wealth

Yang’s fame and mystique grew after the Daily Mail revealed she kept a second Rolls-Royce in the car park of her luxury apartment (above)

We confront absurdly wealthy heiress, 23, with TWO Rolls-Royces who ‘hit Kyle Sandilands’ chauffeur’

‘You don’t see 23-year-olds who can drive two Rolls-Royces.’

Speculation about Yang has also taken off in China, where she has become the subject of wildly inaccurate claims on platforms Douyin and Weibo, plus in mainstream Chinese media reports.

Fevered social media speculation suggested Yang used the English name ‘Wendy’ and that she was a former University of NSW student whose fortune stemmed from the iron ore trade.

There are few public records linking Yang to Australia and she has not been forthcoming about the source of her wealth, or why she is living here, despite approaches by media.

Yang’s apartment, which boasts spectacular views across the harbour, is registered in the name of a shell company not controlled by her or any relative.

The Daily Mail shut down another line of inquiry this week, with the owners of a car parts company in South Hurstville registered to a ‘Lan Lan Yang’ revealing the heiress has no link to the business.

‘No, no, no,’ said a daughter of the other Ms Yang when asked if there was any family connection. ‘She’s not the one. I’d be rich if she was.

‘We’ve seen the news. It’s a complete coincidence. They have the same name and people have been asking.’

The crash (above) left Mr Plassaras with a broken spine, two broken hips, two broken femurs, a torn-open abdomen, a ruptured spleen and other life-changing injuries

Plassaras (above) was taken to hospital and might never work again, while Yang was charged by police and granted bail under conditions including that she surrender her passport

The crash left Mr Plassaras with a broken spine, two broken hips, two broken femurs, a torn-open abdomen, a ruptured spleen and other life-changing injuries.

CCTV footage of the collision appeared to show Yang’s vehicle veering into oncoming traffic before the head-on impact.

A fellow hire car driver who has been in contact with Mr Plassaras told the Daily Mail: ‘He’s never going to be able to work again.’

Another industry figure who has spoken to Mr Plassaras confirmed his employment prospects appeared bleak.

‘He has lost his livelihood,’ they said. ‘His whole world has changed completely and he’s on his own. He’s got no one.

‘He said, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to work again”. And if he does, he says it would not be for a very long time.’

While Mr Plassaras continues his slow road to some sort of recovery, Yang has made no statement about the crash or publicly expressed concern for his welfare.

Daily Mail has been told by associates of Mr Plassaras they are unaware of Yang making any attempt to contact him.

Yang’s bail conditions ban her from driving, require her to remain in her penthouse between 8pm and 6am, and to report to police three times a week.

She has been spotted being chauffeur-driven around town and was recently photographed having a long lunch with a friend at a harbourside restaurant.

Yang is due back in court on Friday.

SydneyCrimeChina

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LanLan Yang is hit with another charge after the wealthy young Chinese heiress allegedly crashed her Rolls-Royce into a chauffer’s Mercedes