Yang Lanlan's Stand-in Makes a Surprising Appearance, Heading Straight to the Police Station to Flaunt and Deceive?

A stand-in for Yang Lanlan was intercepted by a reporter from the Daily Mail. (Internet image)

[People News] The case involving Chinese billionaire Yang Lanlan, who was involved in a drunk driving incident that injured others, has recently gained renewed attention. Australian media have reported that a woman is suspected of impersonating Yang Lanlan to check in at the police station. The Australian police are currently investigating the identity of this woman. Earlier reports indicated that Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party, executed a switch during his visit to Australia last November, bringing the real Yang Lanlan back to China while leaving a stand-in in Australia. Could this 'substitute woman' be the rumoured stand-in?

As per her bail conditions, Yang Lanlan is required to report to the Rose Bay police station every week and reside in her luxurious penthouse apartment in Watsons Bay.

On January 14, around 5:15 PM, a petite young Asian woman arrived at the police station in a black Rolls-Royce Ghost convertible, driven by a tattooed man.

The woman was dressed in a Chanel top and jeans, wearing sunglasses and a mask. Her appearance and physique closely resembled Yang Lanlan's, making her nearly indistinguishable at first glance.

She approached the police station front desk to check in, claiming to be Yang Lanlan. At the police's request, she removed her mask so they could compare her face with the photo of Yang Lanlan in their records. Throughout the process, the woman remained calm, and the police did not notice any discrepancies. Consequently, she completed the routine bail check as per standard procedures.

Afterwards, she exited the police station with her bail documents. Unfortunately, a reporter from the Daily Mail, who had been waiting nearby, intercepted her.

The reporter appeared to have doubts about her identity and directly asked, "Are you LanLan, or someone else?"

Realising she had been recognised, the woman could only respond honestly, "I am someone else."

The reporter then inquired, "Can you tell me who you are?" The woman replied, "I cannot."

Yang Lanlan's stand-in confessed to the Daily Mail reporter that she is not Yang Lanlan. (Internet image)

A senior police officer disclosed that the police are investigating the identity of this woman. On Thursday, January 15, they plan to verify whether Yang Lanlan still lives at her residence in Watsons Bay. The officer emphasised that they take this matter very seriously, stating, "If the allegations are true, it would constitute a very serious crime."

At present, Yang Lanlan's lawyer has been contacted for comments.

It has been six months since the incident involving Yang Lanlan. During four hearings, she has not appeared in person but has participated via video link. Even when she has been photographed, she has worn a mask, leaving the public with little impression of Yang Lanlan's true appearance.

During the fourth hearing on November 14 of last year, Yang Lanlan's lawyer, Michael Corn, arrived late. He requested that Yang Lanlan be excused from appearing in court, citing 'serious mental health issues' and 'extreme anxiety caused by media pressure,' and this request was granted. Additionally, Michael Corn entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Yang Lanlan for all charges. He also disclosed that expert materials would be used as evidence in the case and requested the police to provide a summary of this evidence. Consequently, the New South Wales police are required to submit this evidence summary to Yang Lanlan's legal team by January 9. The case has been postponed until January 30, and if the evidence submission proceeds smoothly, the trial may either continue or be expedited; otherwise, it may face further delays. Throughout this period, Yang Lanlan remains on bail, with unchanged conditions, including regular check-ins at the local police station.

The lawyer also indicated that the defence is contemplating negotiating civil compensation with the victim, rumoured to exceed 4.6 million Australian dollars, while the criminal trial will continue independently. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the lawyer requested the judge to permit Yang Lanlan to be absent from the next hearing on January 30, which was ultimately approved.

After the hearing, the lawyer denied to reporters that Yang Lanlan received any special treatment during the judicial process and sidestepped questions about whether her personal background is connected to high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party.

In July of last year, Yang Lanlan drove a luxury car against traffic and collided with a Mercedes, resulting in serious injuries to the driver. She faces four charges: driving under the influence, dangerous driving causing serious injury, refusing to take an alcohol test, and failing to provide detailed information to the police, with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

Since her arrest, Yang Lanlan has typically been seen entering and exiting in a white Toyota minivan, driven and escorted by bodyguards, with the media capturing her on multiple occasions. However, on January 14, a fake Yang Lanlan was accompanied by a different driver to the police station. She also informed the Daily Mail that the black Rolls-Royce Ghost does not belong to her.

For the past six months, Yang Lanlan has made every effort to avoid being seen in public. The only time she was photographed without a mask was on September 3 of last year, when she had lunch at the Canvas restaurant with a female friend. At that time, she was dressed in an LV jacket, work pants, and Hermes ankle boots, with a total value exceeding $11,000.

When she arrived at the restaurant, she was not wearing a mask, but during the meal, she switched to a white mask and then to a black mask with an opening for her mouth. The black mask allowed her to eat directly while wearing it.

On October 22 of last year, multiple movers were seen entering and exiting Yang Lanlan's penthouse in Watsons Bay, emptying the contents of the house. Neighbours also observed through the open curtains that the house was empty and deserted. Even the white Rolls-Royce Ghost convertible, valued at 800,000 Australian dollars, parked in the garage, was nowhere to be found.

At that time, rumours circulated that Yang Lanlan had fled. However, to secure her bail, Yang Lanlan had surrendered her passport, and the bail conditions did not prohibit her from going to the airport or other exit points. On November 14 of last year, Yang Lanlan did not appear for her fourth court hearing.

Immediately after, Zhao Leji, the third-ranking leader of the Communist Party of China, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Australia from November 22 to 25 last year.

Zhao Leji's visit and Yang Lanlan's disappearance were initially not connected in the eyes of the public. However, a self-identified retired senior official from Beijing, a social media figure known as 'Neican', revealed on November 28 that Zhao Leji's trip had two objectives: the first was to ensure that the Yang Lanlan incident did not disrupt high-level cooperation between the two countries, and the second was to bring Yang Lanlan back to China.

During Zhao Leji's visit to Australia, he requested the Australian government to implement unprecedentedly strict security measures, which raised suspicions. Reports indicate that the Wi-Fi in the area where the Chinese delegation moved within Parliament House would intermittently disconnect. Zhao Leji's suite and office were required to keep doors and curtains closed to maintain privacy.

'Neican' further disclosed that the Beijing authorities stated that the family of the accident victim would cover all compensation costs. However, it was crucial to bring Yang Lanlan back to China. If they believed that the absence of the perpetrator would be difficult to explain, they would leave behind a fake Yang Lanlan as a substitute.

This revelation is, in fact, unconfirmable. Yet, with the sudden emergence of a stand-in for Yang Lanlan, does this lend credence to the claim?

According to the Australian Criminal Code, if an individual makes false statements to the police or court, they could face up to 7 years in prison. This legal consequence applies to cases of intentionally providing false evidence, depending on the severity and circumstances of the case.

This fake Lanlan had previously removed her mask at the police station and compared herself with the photos of Yang Lanlan left by the police. This situation presents two possibilities.

Firstly, the woman who denies being Yang Lanlan is indeed Yang Lanlan herself. However, she prefers not to engage with the media and insists that she is not Yang Lanlan.

The second possibility is that this woman is not Yang Lanlan, but they bear a striking resemblance, which could help her evade police detection.

If it turns out that this woman is indeed an imposter, both she and the real Yang Lanlan could face serious charges; one could say they are quite bold!

Reports suggest that Zhao Leji could facilitate Yang Lanlan's return home, blending her in with the entourage. The Chinese Communist Party could easily fabricate a false identity for her. Thus, this impersonator is likely arranged to take the fall and make sacrifices. Given Yang Lanlan's immense wealth and the rumoured influence behind her, such a scenario is certainly feasible.
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