Hairdresser fights ex-lover's suit over $2.7m salon 'investment'

A Taiwanese businesswoman has snipped back at her ex-lover by taking him to court for $2.7 million she claims she invested to help him set up a hairdresser's in the Island Shangri-La hotel.

Hair stylist Christiaan Georgio, 32, counters that the money Barbara Lin Su-chun gave him between 1997 and 1999 was a gift.

Ms Lin, 43, who works in the fashion industry, is seeking an order from the Court of First Instance that the sum be returned.

Mr Georgio told the court yesterday Ms Lin showered him with gifts during their 3.5-year relationship, which began in July 1995. 'I would receive anything from Armani, anything from all the major houses or boutiques,' he said. 'I had expensive tastes. Anything I would ask for, she would get it for me.' Ms Lin flew over from her home in Taiwan fortnightly, and would each time give Mr Georgio cash payments ranging from $5,000 to $8,000, the court heard. Mr Georgio estimated that in their time together, he received up to $1 million in cash alone.

On March 1, 1999 - the month the couple broke up - Ms Lin gave Mr Georgio $100,000 in cash, which he claims was a birthday present, the court heard.

Counsel for Ms Lin, Paul Carolan, suggested to Mr Georgio that he had taken advantage of her generosity. He said that his client gave Mr Georgio the $100,000 among other payments - excluding the fortnightly cash gifts - to make up a shortfall in the cost of refurbishing a salon he had taken over in the hotel in April 1998.