She’s not rushing to leave Rikers.
On Wednesday, Pei Chong, who is accused of being a serial “Dinner and Dash” perpetrator, opted to stay in her Rikers Island cell instead of appearing in court in Brooklyn. This marks the second attempt she has made to skip her legal obligations.
This time, Judge Jacob Zelmanowitz decided it was best for her to remain in her cell rather than be forced into the courtroom, unlike her previous court appearance.
Judge Zelmanowitz pointed out that Chong, 34, a fan of high fashion, hasn’t yet completed the psychiatric evaluation related to her case.
“There was a power outage on Rikers Island on the day the evaluation was supposed to take place,” Chong’s attorney, Henry DeCharles, explained after the hearing.
He added, “So we need to reschedule.”
Her last court appearance on December 17 raised further concerns over her mental health; she was forcibly removed from Rikers for that session.
During the hearing, the aspiring influencer interrupted Judge Orville Reynolds more than once, insisting, “I’m talking and you’re not talking! Do you understand?!”
In response, she cryptically stated, “That’s not correct.”
This kind of odd behavior isn’t new for Chong, who has caught the attention of law enforcement multiple times—specifically, at least ten occasions for dining at upscale restaurants and refusing to pay.
She has been known to showcase her “reviews” of these meals on her bland blog and a moderately spicy Instagram account, where she shares images of herself in designer outfits and notes she’s “99 pounds and plastic surgery free.”
Her antics eventually led to her being detained at Rikers in November, charged with theft and unable to pay her $4,500 bail.
DeCharles mentioned he is attempting to reach out to Chong’s family in Taiwan for assistance with the bail, as she has now been held for three months.
When inquired about the progress, he responded, “Not yet.”
Chong’s next court hearing is set for March 5, concerning the psychological assessments that still need to be carried out.
