Australian lawyer Samuel Monkivitch is accused by Hong Kong police of repeatedly leaving restaurants without paying, a pattern that has drawn attention online in the city. Multiple reports say officers allege he fled from four separate venues, including Chinese restaurants associated with five-star hotels such as the Shangri-La.
The reports also state that Monkivitch pleaded guilty and was fined in relation to earlier incidents involving running out on a massage parlour and a Chinese restaurant. In addition to the payment-related allegations, one outlet reports he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man who confronted him.
Local coverage describes the episode as becoming viral through social media in Hong Kong, where users have circulated videos and posts linked to the alleged dine-and-dash behaviour. The accounts focus on the police allegations, the number and type of venues involved, and the court outcome referenced by the outlets, without detailing investigative methods or motivations. Monkivitch’s conduct and charges therefore remain framed around alleged non-payment and related offences reported by police and addressed through court proceedings.
