The paramour of Hong Kong’s Nina Wang, who was once Asia’s wealthiest woman, has been convicted of
forging her will and is sentenced to 12 years in prison, The Associated Press reports. Wang, who died of cancer when she was 69 in 2007, had a fortune estimated at $10.7 billion.
A Hong Kong judge convicted Peter Chan, also known as Tony Chan, of forging her will to enrich himself. High Court Justice Andrew Macrae called Chan’s actions "shameless, wicked and born of unparalleled greed," according to the AP.
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The lengthy trial opened in 2010 and has been closely followed by Chinese media, the Mail Online reports. Last month, Chan’s defense team reportedly showed a video showing Chan, 23 years younger than Wang, kissing and cuddling with her in an attempt to show the couple’s relationship was real, according to the Mail Online. Chan said he had been romantically involved with Wang since 1993.
It didn’t help his case with Judge Macrae, who said, “I have no doubt you are nothing more than a clever and no doubt beguiling charlatan,” according to the Mail Online.
Prior to taking up with Wang, Chan, now 53, had worked as a waiter and bartender and feng shui consultant, the Mail Online said.
Wang inherited her fortune after the death of her husband, Teddy Wang, the founder of Chinachem. Teddy Wang was kidnapped in 1990 and declared dead in 1999 after his body had not been found. Teddy Wang’s will also involved a drawn-out
legal battle that eventually resulted in Nina Wang’s inheriting his estate, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Wang was eccentric, known for wearing her hair in pigtails in the style of Pippi Longstocking, and was given the nickname “Little Sweetie” in Hong Kong, the AP reports.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Chan was married and had three children, one of whom he named Wealthee, during the time he was in a relationship with Wang. Chan later said he converted to Christianity, the Journal said.
Chan appears to have earned little sympathy in Hong Kong.
“She had already given him more than enough when she was alive, to keep him in luxury,” commented reader Graham, Hong Kong on the Mail Online site. “He got greedy. No one here has any sympathy for him.”
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