Nina Wang still faces charges she forged her late husband's will

The Court of Final Appeal overturned an earlier High Court ruling that decided she had forged Terry Wang's will just before he was kidnapped in 1990.

As a result of the High Court verdict, the entire estate was given to Mrs Wang's 94-year-old father-in-law.

Friday's verdict reverses this ruling, giving control of the multi-billion dollar Chinachem firm back to Mrs Wang.

Terry Wang was never seen again after his kidnapping, and was declared legally dead in 1999.

Since then Nina Wang - known for her pigtails and exuberant dress-sense - has built Chinachem into a major property developer, and her fortune has been estimated at more than $3bn.

But ever since her husband's disappearance, she has been embroiled in an acrimonious dispute with Teddy Wang's father, Wan Din-shin, over her inheritance rights.

Forgery charge

In late 2002, the High Court ruled that a will which appeared to have been hand-written by Teddy Wang, leaving his entire fortune to his wife, had been falsified.

Mrs Wang is known for her exuberant dress sense

The judge decided that Mrs Wang had probably forged the document, and the money was handed to Wang Din-shin.

Mrs Wang refused to give in, taking the matter to the Court of Final Appeal, which ruled on Friday that the document was genuine.

It was not clear how the ruling would affect a separate criminal prosecution of Mrs Wang for forgery.

The Wang story has captivated Hong Kong because of its mix of high-finance, sex and deceit.

During the protracted battle over the will, Wang Din-shin accused Nina Wang of adultery, showing the court pictures of her with an alleged lover.

In fear of her enemies, and in the face of regular death threats, Mrs Wang employs a team of bodyguards 24 hours a day.

Such protection seems necessary: On Thursday night, her brother Kung Yan-sum - who testified on Mrs Wang's behalf - was beaten up in a Hong Kong street by four men wielding wooden bats.