Ex-CEO claims signature was forged

A former chief executive of a company at the centre of an £740m (€917m) property case has claimed his signature was forged.

Walter Kwok, who was boss between Oct 2003 and mid-2008 of Sun Hung Kai Properties — the Hong Kong company purportedly providing guarantees on property transactions AIB provided loans for — has denied any knowledge of the deals.

Mr Kwok gave evidence via a video link in Hong Kong which jurors at Southwark crown court in London heard. He said purported guarantees signed by his firm to help Achilleas Kallakis buy UK properties were forged.