Casino king Ho's family feud takes another twist

Lawyers for ailing casino baron Stanley Ho have released three videos of him that they say show he wants to continue with a lawsuit against family members.

The suit accuses the family members of seizing Ho's $1.6 billion stake in his Macau gambling empire.

The video clips, released Monday, show the 89-year-old billionaire answering questions from his lawyer, Gordon Oldham, about the dispute that erupted last week. He is currently hospitalized for what his lawyers said was a routine procedure.

In one video dated Jan. 26, Ho tells Oldham: "We still go ahead."

Ho also denies that the transfer of the stake to families of his second and third wives was part of succession plans put in place in December.

Oldham said the video shows his client is alert and has a clear mind.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

HONG KONG (AP) - Family members involved in a dispute with ailing casino baron Stanley Ho over ownership of his gambling empire said he has dropped his lawsuit against them, but a law firm representing the billionaire denied it Monday.

It's yet another twist in a family feud that erupted last week over who will control Ho's stake, worth about $1.6 billion, in his casino company in Macau, the world's most lucrative gambling market.

Ho, who was hospitalized for seven months after reportedly undergoing brain surgery in August 2009, has 16 surviving children by four women he calls his "wives." The unfolding drama highlights a power struggle between different branches of the family for control of his casino empire.

The families of Ho's second and third wives said late Sunday that Ho "does not see any point" in going through with the legal action filed last week, which alleged that the shares were improperly transferred from Ho to them.

The two families released a letter written in Chinese purportedly signed by Ho in which he said that he is dropping the "unnecessary steps of legal procedures," which he had taken because of a recent lack of understanding and communication.

But law firm Oldham, Li and Nie said it is going forward with the lawsuit, saying Ho confirmed his wishes to "take all available action" to ensure that his assets are divided equally among the families of his four wives.

"His wishes are to continue to pursue this matter," senior partner Gordon Oldham said in comments broadcast Monday on a local cable television news channel.

The controversy erupted a week ago when Hong Kong-listed casino operator Sociedade de Jogos de Macau announced that Ho, who owns roughly 18 percent of the company through a series of holdings, transferred the stake to his third wife and five children from his second wife. Oldham said Ho believed the transfer was improper, while the family members released documents they said proved he agreed to it. Oldham then filed suit to reclaim the assets.

At one point, Ho appeared on television with his third wife and one of their daughters to say he was dropping the suit and firing Oldham. But Oldham said Ho told him later he was pressured into making the statement.

Secret talks last week involving three branches of the family came close to an agreement on an equal four-way split but failed because a follow-up meeting with all four branches fell through, according to a statement by Oldham's firm.

However, Pansy Ho, a daughter by Ho's second wife, denied that she agreed in principle to the equal split, saying the meeting was just a chance for everyone involved to express their views.