Dine-and-Dash Lawyer Accused of Similar Scams in Australia After Hong Kong Conviction

An Australian lawyer, Sam Monkivitch, who received a fine and a suspended jail sentence in Hong Kong for a series of dine-and-dash incidents, is reportedly engaging in similar behavior targeting small businesses back in Australia. Monkivitch had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to scamming restaurants and not paying bills across Hong Kong.

In a recent incident in Melbourne, a salon owner named Vanessa reported that Monkivitch not only admitted to his past actions but also showed her a news article detailing his Hong Kong offenses. He then vanished without paying, promising to return after getting cash from a nearby bank.

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He told me his name and his whole story of how he’d been arrested in Hong Kong for scamming restaurants and not paying. He showed me the article. He’s carrying it around with him, boasting about it. He’s proud of it.

Journalists from the Australian Nine News show, 'A Current Affair,' attempted to confront Monkivitch at his home. Although he did not initially answer the door, he reportedly paid the salon less than two hours later, possibly after seeing the news crew on CCTV. He subsequently refused to answer further questions when approached by another reporter.

In Hong Kong, Monkivitch faced charges for four instances of making off without payment and one count of criminal damage between April 24 and May 5. His unpaid bills totaled approximately HK$2,039. The criminal damage charges involved allegations of destroying a sales terminal and damaging an iPhone. He was released after a month in custody, fined HK$2,000, and given a six-week jail term suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay compensation for the damaged phone and unpaid bills.

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No, I’ll go and get your cash. Go to the bank, get the cash, come back. And he’s like, ‘I’ll be back in 20 minutes’. And I’m thinking, ‘What takes 20 minutes?’ Like, it’s literally two doors down.