Singer says signature on brother's loan not his

The signature of singer Emil Chau Wa-kin on a loan guarantee to his brother is fake, a court heard yesterday.

The allegation was made by a lawyer for the 45-year-old singer, who is now being sued for repayment of $11.2 million, the Court of First Instance was told.

In his opening statement, John Scott, council for the plaintiff, Jiangsu Golden Civil Building Group, said Chau signed the guarantee on July 24, 2000, for a debt of 4.4 million yuan his brother Chau Ho-kin owed the company. The signing was witnessed by Valent Tse, a solicitor, and Chau's brother, Chau Ho-kin.

After the signing Chau received a photocopy of the contract, and the original went to Jiangsu, Mr Scott said. By September 2000, the debt had risen to $11.2 million, including an additional loan of $2.5 million, interest and other expenses. In pursuing its claims, Jiangsu submitted the guarantee, claiming it was the original. But Mr Tse earlier insisted the document was a forgery because it was different from the photocopy, according to Mr Scott.

'The agreement was signed with the defendant's consent, and he is liable to pay off the loan for the debtor as a guarantor,' Mr Scott told Deputy High Court Judge David Gill.

Mr Scott said that Emil Chau said to his brother after signing the agreement, 'we are two brothers, and cannot be separated. I'll support you'.