HK feng shui master defends claim for Nina's wealth

Feng shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen (C), accompanied by his bodyguards, arrives at the High Court in Hong Kong June 23, 2009.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The feng shui master at the centre of a bitter probate battle for the estate of Hong Kong tycoon Nina Wang, wrapped up his testimony in court on Tuesday, defending his claim over his purported lover's vast wealth.

Hong Kong has been intrigued by the long-running saga over two conflicting wills for the estate of Wang, estimated to be worth at least $4.2 billion. She died of cancer in 2007, aged 69.

Tony Chan, 49, Wang's feng shui master and former lover, has claimed to be the sole beneficiary of Wang's estate based on the existence of a 2006 will.

Over several days, the married Chan gave his eagerly-awaited testimony in court, describing his affair with Wang as an intimate one filled with nocturnal trysts, bizarre feng shui rituals including the digging of holes and burning banknotes, overseas trips and shared hobbies like flying model helicopters.

Lawrence Lok, a lawyer for the Chinachem Charitable Foundation representing Wang's family, which lays claim to an earlier will, described Chan as Wang's "toy boy".

But Chan flatly denied this: "It's not a sin to love someone 23 years your senior ... age is not a boundary of love."

The Foundation has claimed Chan's will is a fake.

Under aggressive bursts of questioning, Lok suggested Chan lured Wang into giving him three "gratuitous" cash gifts each worth around $89 million, to heal her deteriorating illness.

"This is ridiculous, how am I able to rejuvenate a person," Chan replied. "It is a gift to me. She addressed me as hubby and she loved me," the crew-cut, stocky Chan added.

Chan -- who drifted between odd jobs early on including stints as a waiter, machinery salesman and bartender -- later turned to feng shui and saw his fortunes transformed upon meeting Wang in 1992. The trappings of his newfound wealth included a mansion, luxury yachts, a helicopter and a private jet.

Wang was dubbed "Little Sweetie", after a Japanese manga cartoon character and was known for her trademark braided pig-tails, mini-skirts and giggly persona.

"We each have one pigtail, which signifies our love," Chan told the packed courtroom.

Wang's business empire included the Chinachem Group, the city's largest private property developer.

The Shanghai-born 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.

Wang later faced an acrimonious legal battle with her nonagenarian father-in-law amid claims of adultery and murder.

She finally wrested control of Teddy's estate in 2005.