Hong Kong feng shui master loses battle for tycoon's fortune

High Court judge Johnson Lam said a will in the possession of one-time barman Tony Chan was a fake, and ruled in favor of a rival claim to the eccentric billionaire's estate by a charity now run by Wang's siblings.

Wang, who at one stage was Asia's richest woman, died of cancer in April 2007 at the age of 69, triggering a bitter feud between Chan and the charity, who both claimed they were entitled to her massive riches.

“The court finds that the 2006 will was not signed by Nina,” the judge wrote in his ruling on the case known as the “Battle of the Wills” that has gripped the tycoon-obsessed city.

He described the signature on the 2006 Chan will as a “highly skilled simulation.”

Lam ruled in favor of Wang's Chinachem Charitable Foundation, saying a 2002 will held by her siblings “truly reflected the long-held intention on the part of Nina to leave her estate to charity.”

Chan said in a statement that he was “extremely disappointed” and would appeal.

He added that the 2006 will “was given to him by Nina and it is thus inconceivable that it is a forgery.”

Chan's lawyers have said that their client could face criminal fraud charges if his will was deemed a forgery.

Kung Yan-sum, Wang's younger brother, welcomed the judgment and said he had received the support of people from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.

He told reporters it was unfortunate that his sister had met Chan.

“Had she not met him, there would not have been so much trouble and her wishes would have been carried out three years ago.”

Kung said his family would “have a think” about whether to ask Chan to return to them Wang's signature pigtails, which the feng shui master claimed the tycoon had given to him as a gift.

But he added: “The judge said he was not credible. Who knows if the pigtails he gives us are genuine?”

Chinachem lawyer Keith Ho said all of Wang's estate would be inherited by the foundation. But he admitted that the transfer of the estate to the foundation would be hindered if Chan filed an appeal.

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