Hong Kong feng shui master loses battle for lover’s $4bn

A man who had an affair with Asia's richest woman today lost his battle over her $4 billion estate which will now go to charity.

A Hong Kong court accepted that former barman turned "feng shui master" Tony Chan had a relationship with Nina Wang, who was more than 20 years his senior, during which she gave him with gifts and money.

But it ruled that the will he presented which named him sole heir was a forgery and that the Wang signature on it was a "highly skilled simulation".

The ruling added: "The court finds that he lied and withheld relevant information." One of Chan's lawyers, Jonathan Midgley, said his client was "extremely disappointed" and plans to appeal.

It was unclear whether Hong Kong police would investigate Chan for forgery. The charge carries a maximum of 14 years in prison.

Mrs Wang, known as "Little Sweetie", was famous for her trademark braided pigtails, mini skirts and giggly persona. She was also head of a business empire which included the Chinachem Group, the country's largest private property developer.

She died of cancer in April 2007 aged 69 and the lawsuit centred on two competing wills, the 2006 document held by Chan and the 2002 will that left her fortune to the Chinachem Charitable Foundation.

The court ruling said "she placed a higher regard on her charitable objectives" than Chan. It added: "Giving him gifts or even large sums of money during Nina's lifetime when he made her happy is one thing. Making him her sole heir in respect of her entire estate is quite different."

Mrs Wang's brother, Kung Yan-sum, said: "We have won now. There is justice in this world." Mrs Wang inherited most of her wealth from her husband, Teddy, who was kidnapped in 1990 and never seen alive again, despite the payment of a $33 million ransom.

Mrs Wang later fought an acrimonious legal battle with her father-in-law amid claims of adultery and murder. She wrested control of the estate in 2005.