Hong Kong actress Jessica Hsuan's boyfriend, South African veterinarian Ruan Bester, has been found to have a history of embezzlement and dishonest conduct, according to Hong Kong media reports.
In 2008, 35-year-old Bester opened the Royal Veterinary Centre, the biggest veterinary clinic in Macau at the time, with Faye Ho, the eldest granddaughter of Macau's 'Casino King' Stanley Ho.
However, the pair got into a serious financial dispute over ownership of the clinic and even went to court. Bester was also found to have misappropriated company funds to pay for his rent.
Bester was said to have roped in Faye Ho to open the hospital after he went through a series of unhappy incidents while working at other veterinary clinics.
Ho agreed to put up HK$5 million (S$1 million) to open the Royal Veterinary Centre with Bester because she felt he was a good vet. She would hold a 75 per cent stake in the clinic while Bester was to own the remaining 25 per cent.
However, on the day they were to sign the contract, Bester asked to increase his stake to 50 per cent but admitted he did not have the funds to do so. Ho agreed to his request, on the condition that Bester will receive no salary for the first two years, and the papers were signed.
Bester was left completely in charge of the clinic. However, Ho found irregularities in the clinic's books and wanted to engage an accountant to check the accounts but Bester refused.
Bester also complained to nurses that he was not being paid for his work despite agreeing to do so as part of his ownership deal. He allegedly boasted he would borrow funds and buy out Ho, but when he failed to secure a loan, Bester incited a strike by the clinic's nurses to force Ho to relinquish her share of the clinic.
When contacted about the matter, Ho, who is also the chairperson of Macau animal welfare group Anima, said: "This is all true but I do not wish to comment further on the issue."
Actress Jessica Hsuan met Bester four years ago at a veterinary clinic but the pair only began dating recently.
Hsuan, 39, even let slip that Bester was her first foreign boyfriend and that she saw him as a potential husband in interviews with Hong Kong newspapers.
These allegations, if they turn out to be true, may very well put the brakes on any marriage plans she might have.
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