A desperate relative's attempt to save her dying cancer-stricken nephew by buying up to $1 million worth of Chinese medicine was in vain as the products turned out to be 'useless', according to a writ.
Ma Sum-foon, 71, has filed a High Court writ seeking a refund of more than $880,000 from the Hong Kong Vegetarian Benevolent Fund Limited and the man in charge of the company, Shek Yuen-chu.
She claims the company - which is also known as the 'Green Cross Anti-Cancer Fund' and sells vegetarian, health food and 'anti-cancer' products - overcharged her 200 times more than the market price on a capsule-form Chinese medicine called reishi.
Ms Ma says in the writ that she approached the company in October 1998 as her nephew, Kirk Ma Chi-keung, was in the last stages of intestinal cancer.
She alleges Mr Shek, who entertained her on a few occasions, claimed to be a medical doctor and induced her to buy various goods that he claimed to be effective in curing cancer.
The writ says Ms Ma paid $409,612 for boxes of Chinese medicine as well as a machine, and she was also persuaded to spend an extra $550,000 on wild reishi and the plant huang jing.