Ignoring the controversy: Lindsay Lohan attended the Giuseppe Zanotti Design Beverly Hills Store Opening dinner in West Hollywood last night
Speculation and scandal is swirling around her this week after it emerged she is being investigated for grand theft.
But nothing was stopping Lindsay Lohan's long-awaited return to the spotlight, and the troubled actress defiantly attended a dinner party thrown by designer Giuseppe Zanotti last night.
The star ensured she was impeccably styled and groomed for her first outing at a Hollywood event since leaving the Betty Ford rehabilitation facility last month.
But while Lindsay may have hoped for her first tentative step back into the fold to go off without a hitch, it couldn't have come at a worse time.
The 24-year-old has denied allegations that she stole a $2,500 necklace from Venice Beach jewellery store Kamofie & Co.
But the ongoing scandal looked like the furthest thing from the Mean Girls star's mind as she posed for pictures and rubbed shoulders with Zanotti and fellow troublemaker Kanye West at the party in West Hollywood .
Here comes trouble: Lindsay rubbed shoulders with equally controversial Kanye West
Wearing a black strapless dress with a bow belt, strappy black heels and her blonde hair perfectly curled, Lindsay appeared confident and carefree.
It was in stark contrast to her agitated expression the day before, after paying a visit to her probation officer, who would surely have grilled the starlet on her latest controversy.
Miss Lohan, who could face a possible six-moth jail term for any further law violations according to the terms of her parole, visited the Santa Monica courthouse for the meeting, at what can only be described as extremely bad timing.
Friends like these: The actress was spotted have a friendly chat with designer Giuseppe Zanotti at the dinner
Miss Loahn's British publicist Sophie Goodale has told MailOnline she denies the claims she stole it.
However after it emerged that a paparazzi photograph of the star wearing a gold necklace last week is understood to have led police to target the star in a grand theft investigation, the actress changed her story, saying she was loaned the one-of-a-kind necklace.
But the store's owner Sofia Kaman has denied this. Kaman told TMZ: 'When we loan out jewellery, we have a whole procedure that needs to be done.
'There needs to be insurance information given or credit card information in case something happens with the jewellery.'
She added that her store rarely deals with celebrities themselves, more often working with stylists who will come in to borrow jewellery for photoshoots and events.
Glum: Lohan leaves Santa Monica courthouse on Wednesday after a meeting with her probation officer
The paparazzi shot taken last Thursday comes in addition to surveillance video footage of the star wearing the $2,500 chain during her visit to the Kamofie jewellery boutique in the Los Angeles beach suburb on January 22.
Lohan, 24, met with her probation officer yesterday after LAPD officer Bruce Borihanh confirmed that they were investigating the allegation.
Website TMZ.com - who broke the news that Michael Jackson had died - has reported that the star sat down yesterday with her probation officer to discuss the matter after official wheels were set in motion over the allegations.
Spotted: Lindsay Lohan wore a gold necklace in Venice Beach, California, last week which she has since been accused of stealing
It also reports that the case has officially been turned over to the LA County District Attorney's Office - which will now decide whether or not to file charges against the actress.
The police officer in charge of the investigation apparently contacted the LA County Probation Department on Tuesday night.
He informed them that Lohan was the sole target of a grand theft investigation involving a necklace that was taken from a jewellery store in the city.
Lohan denies all allegations.
The department will now look into the case to see if the troubled starlet has violated the conditions of her current probation order - stemming from her conviction for driving under the influence from an incident in 2007.
Lohan is suspected of stealing the necklace as surveillance footage obtained by police allegedly shows her wearing the jewellery in the Kamofie boutique just before it went missing on January 22.
U.S. website RadarOnline reported police began investigating Lohan the following day, but the case progressed further following a paparazzi photo of the actress apparently wearing the necklace on January 27.
Shop: Kamofie & Company the store at the centre of the alleged dispute
Jewels: A selection of goods for sale in the shop window
'Law enforcement believe the video will prove that the actress took the necklace, because it doesn’t, any any point, show her paying for the item,' a source told U.S. website Radaronline.
'It's the strongest evidence authorities have against the actress... if the video didn't exist, she wouldn't be in this precarious situation.'
As the necklace is worth over $900, the theft is classed as grand theft, making the crime a felony.
An associate of the troubled actress allegedly turned in the expensive necklace to police, after it emerged that officers were in the process of obtaining a warrant to search her house.
Jeff Kaman, the husband of Kamofie owner Sofia Kaman, confirmed the necklace involved in the investigation was from his wife's store - which is walking distance from Lohan's home.
Investigation: Police arrive at the store to look into the allegations
Tasteful: The interior of the Venice jewellery shop
It is unknown whether the owner will press charges now that the piece has been returned.
Despite a friend of the actress turning in the necklace on Tuesday night, TMZ reports that she has lashed out at the store owner, calling her 'nuts' for filing a police report.
'It's bull****. I don't have any necklace,' she reportedly told friends.
It's claimed the necklace was loaned to her and she gave it back to a stylist at some point afterwards, but the stylist neglected to return it on time.
However, sources told TMZ.com the actress was 'tipped off' about a possible police investigation, citing the fact her associate returned the necklace to police, rather than to the store.
A warrant to search the actress's home was signed off by Judge Katherine Mader at 3.45pm on Tuesday afternoon, but before police were able to execute it, the necklace was returned.
Investigation: Lohan faces a possible six-month jail term for any further law violations, according to her parole terms
The 24-year-old, who last month completed a 90-day stay in the Betty Ford rehabilitation centre, faces a six-month jail sentence for any law violation, according to the terms of her parole.
This is not the first time the Mean Girls star has been involved in a jewellery theft investigation.
In 2009, £250,000 worth of jewels went missing during a cover photo shoot for UK Elle magazine.
Lohan was the subject of speculation after staff at the photoshoot reported overhearing her ask repeatedly to keep the Dior jewels.
However, both Lohan and Elle denied she was under suspicion and no charges were brought against her.
Lindsay was ordered to complete a three-month rehabilitation programme after failing a drugs test and repeatedly failing to meet the terms of her probation, in connection to her 2007 driving under the influence conviction.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for February 25.
Source;Dailymail
