Sisters fight millionaire brother after being cut out of £3m family fortune
hree sisters who say they were cut out of their mother’s will by their millionaire brother and “domineering” father are fighting for their share of a £3 million family fortune.
When she died in 2015, Ho Chin left everything in her name to her only son Winston, who had already been given most of the family wealth by his 87-year-old traditionalist father George after Winston’s marriage in 1989.
Three of Winston’s five sisters, Ivy, 60, Rose, 61, and Ruby, 57, are now fighting for control of a £185,000 home in Southend, believing their mother did not truly want to leave them nothing.
They accused their father of being “abusive and manipulative”, forcing his wife with the help of his son to change her will in 2011.
He added of their mother: “After Rose, Ruby and Ivy were cut out of contact with her, she was left defenceless against the influence of George and Winston, and eventually capitulated. However, she did so against her will, rather than by undergoing a dramatic change of mind.”
The sisters believe an earlier version of their mother’s will, from 2009, should be ruled by the High Court to represent her final wishes.
Winston Chin denied in court that his mother had been pressured. “She had a voice, she knew her own mind and she was the strongest out of my mum and dad,” he said. He also disputed his sisters’ portrayal of their father.
Mr and Mrs Chin, who moved from Hong Kong to Essex in 1965, built a restaurant business and owned properties in Southend and Hong Kong.
Mr Briggs said Mrs Chin had a stroke in 2009 and became “physically and emotionally dependent” on her son and husband. Ivy Chin described her father as a “compulsive gambler” who was “coercive and threatening”, telling the court: “He was dominating, manipulative and cunning.”
Her sister Rose said their mother had wanted her daughters to be “treated equally”, but this was a source of friction with her husband.
“She was happy that my father passed his share to his son, but insisted she had five daughters who helped in the shop,” she said.
Ruby Yeap added: “My father’s opinion is that the daughters, whilst they’re married, are not a part of the Chin household. His belief was it would all go to the sole son in the family.”
Winston’s barrister, Marcus Flavin, said the claim of coercion was a “fantasy”.
Judge Milwyn Jarman will rule on the case at a later date.