A COLLECTOR of Buddhist statues yesterday won back 20 million yen (HK$1.44 million) he had paid to an antique dealer after a dispute over whether he had agreed to buy a bronze vessel shaped like a mythological Feng bird.
Mr Justice Jones said he was satisfied that Muneichi Nitta, 81, was telling the truth when he said he paid the money in good faith to have the bird and an extremely rare gilt bronze Buddhist statue brought to Tokyo for inspection.
Mr Nitta said he paid the money as a gesture because Wang Jui-cin's financial position was not good and the sum was to be returned if the purchase did not proceed.
However, Mr Wang, the managing partner of Sung Chuk Chai Curios Shop in Sheung Wan, claimed that on December 18, 1991, Mr Nitta had agreed to buy the Feng bird and the 20 million yen was a deposit.
Mr Wang's brother-in-law, Wei Wan-lung, took the bird to Tokyo on December 26, 1991, for inspection. Mr Nitta and his sons did not like the Feng bird and Mr Wei returned to Hong Kong with it.
After the bird was rejected and Mr Wang failed to produce the Buddhist statue, Mr Nitta wanted the return of the 20 million yen.
