Hong Kong, Nov 23 (IANS) An Indian-origin man, who claimed squatter's right on his landlord's flat in Hong Kong, where he had lived all his life, now faces a lawsuit from his owner who claimed more than a decade's rent arrears.
Jagpal Singh, who won a lottery of 44.3 million Hong Kong dollars in 2011, applied to the district court in Hong Kong in December 2011 for adverse possession of the flat at Nation Street, North Point, the South China Morning Post reported Saturday.
Singh said he lived in the flat since he was born in 1977.
The counsel for the flat's owner Yu King-chau Friday told the court that his client was seeking vacant possession of the home, and payment of the rent that Singh had failed to cough up over the years.
According to a writ filed, Singh's parents had originally rented the flat from Yu's mother Kwong Mei-heung, who died in 1981.
They continued to pay rent into Kwong's account until 1995, when the rent was about 1,500 Hong Kong dollars per month.
Singh and his mother stopped paying rent, and Yu had not asked them for the money or for possession of the flat, the writ said.
Believing Yu's rights to the flat had expired, Singh asked the court to declare him its owner.
Yu's layer told the court he would file a counter claim against the lottery winner, seeking rent and possession of the flat.
Deputy Judge Lawrence Yip Sue-pui adjourned the case till May 14, 2014.
Even after winning the jackpot, Singh continued working as a delivery driver despite his newfound wealth.
Singh had reportedly bought three flats at Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung after winning the lottery, from which he was bringing in more than 40,000 Hong Kong dollars per month in rent.
However, Singh's lawyer told the court his client had decided to discontinue his claim.
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