Troubled English soccer club owner Carson Yeung Ka-shing narrowly avoided losing a HK$20 million legal tussle yesterday by claiming he failed to receive a writ from the company that is suing him.
The twist came after lawyers for the owner of English Championship soccer club Birmingham City and his former wife wrote to the High Court claiming he was not served a writ filed by Heritage International Holdings executive director Peter Ong.
Ong is suing Yeung and his ex-wife, Terrenz Li Wing-sze, over an outstanding payment of HK$20 million and ownership of a Mid-Levels flat that Ong said was a security for the payment.
Ong's lawyers yesterday asked for a ruling against Yeung after he failed to file his defence. They also argued that he or his representatives had failed to attend an earlier hearing as well as yesterday's proceedings.
'He did not appear despite knowledge of this proceeding,' said Tony Ko, for Ong, referring to the fact the Yeung - who is facing money laundering charges after an investigation by the Hong Kong police commercial crime bureau - could manage to write to the court arguing that he did not receive the writ.
Deputy High Court Judge Ian Carlson adjourned the case to Wednesday, expecting to hear more from Yeung's lawyer on why he was not served the writ.
