Junying Yan, mother of millionaire Hongtao Liu, says she should control his $50 million empire so it can one day go to his son

The mother of a millionaire who died without a will says she is suing for control of his $50 million estate so that, when she dies, she can leave it to his teenage son.

A millionaire’s mother is suing his widow for control of his $50m global empire so that, when she dies, she can leave it to the couple’s teenage son, a court has heard.

Junying Yan has told the Supreme Court she will give every dollar to Hongtao Liu’s 14-year-old son, even if that means keeping it from him for decades.

“According to law, everything belonging to me belongs to me – for anything that does not belong to me, I will not ask for it,” she said.

Mr Liu died in November 2018 without a will – Ms Yan claims he intended to return to China so that country’s law, under which she will inherit his estate, should be followed.

Junying Yan, mother of businessman Hongtao Liu, outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards.

Mr Liu’s widow, Xianting Kong, wants the estate awarded to her and the couple’s children, as per Australian law, because they became citizens in 2016.

Previously, Ms Kong told the court she and her husband informed Ms Yan twice that they were moving to Australia and not returning.

Lawyers for Ms Kong also accused Mr Liu’s older brother, Hongbin, of using Ms Yan’s name on four Chinese lawsuits seeking to claim the $50m in assets. In her evidence, Ms Yan said none of those allegations were true.

She also denied that her apartment, in China, had been purchased for her by Mr Liu.

Mr Liu’s wife, Xianting Kong, outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards.

“I was living in the property of my eldest son, and Hongtao was giving me some living expenses,” she said.

Ms Yan said she came to Australia in February 2020 because she “missed my grandchildren” and “wanted to ease my stress”.

“Now there is COVID and I can’t leave … I don’t like it here, by staying here I miss my son Hongtao more … I want to go home,” she said.

Simon Ower QC, for Ms Kong, suggested Ms Yan was “not telling the truth”. “You are trying to earn sympathy from the judge, and you wish to hide the fact it’s Hongbin who’s making the decisions, that this is really to benefit him,” he said. The trial, before Justice Tim Stanley, continues.