A university student from the mainland, who reportedly “went missing” after taking a solo trip to Hong Kong on Saturday, was revealed yesterday to be safe and sound — but behind bars.
Luo Wanlu, an information engineering student at Shenzhen University, caused a frenzy among Chinese netizens after her family and friends appealed for her whereabouts online. Last night, Hong Kong police told Apple Daily that the 21-year-old student was in fact serving a 14-day jail term after admitting she stole thousands of dollars’ worth of cosmetics.
Luo told her university hallmate at around 1pm on Saturday that she was coming to Hong Kong for a shopping trip and would return home in the evening. The 21-year-old stayed in touch with friends by asking them whether they wanted various snacks and beauty products via WeChat for a few hours, Oriental Daily reports, but abruptly stopped responding to messages at around 5pm that day.
After about 24 hours, Luo’s classmates filed a missing persons report with the Shenzhen police, who confirmed the student had not crossed the border back into mainland China.
Several of Luo’s classmates then rushed to Hong Kong in an attempt to search for the missing student, while her parents filed a report with local police. Later, Hong Kong police told reporters that Luo was arrested on Saturday afternoon when she was caught shoplifting in a Tuen Mun store.
The young woman had reportedly stolen face masks, cleansing products, and other cosmetics worth a combined HKD2,400 from three shops in Trend Plaza Shopping Arcade and Tuen Mun Town Plaza.
Luo pleaded guilty to three counts of theft at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Court on Monday afternoon, and said she was spurred by “momentary greed”. She is currently serving a 14-day jail term at Lo Wu Correctional Institution and will be repatriated back to the mainland after the sentence.
After learning of their daughter’s arrest, Luo’s parents broke down in tears and insisted to reporters that their daughter had never done anything like this before. “I know my daughter!” Luo’s father said to Apple Daily.
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