The eldest son of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon, the head of one of Europe's richest families, was yesterday accused of sibling rivalry and stopping his brothers and sisters from joining the family business empire.

The claim was made by Michael Crystal Q.C. on the second day of the trial held in the Supreme Court, where the baron is trying to gain control of a business worth $2.7 billion from his son Georg, also known as Heini junior.

The baron put his son in charge of the business through a Bermuda-based trust in 1983, but now wants to regain control.

He claims his son, who is now 49, owes him $232 million through arrears, inflation and loss of value.

Mr. Crystal said: "Other beneficiaries have wanted to work in Thyssen-Bornemizsa Group''.

He said this was a matter of dispute with Georg's lawyers, but added: "these attempts have been frustrated by Georg.'' He went on to explain: "Alexander wanted to work at Thyssen-Bornemizsa Group (TBG), but when he wanted to do so he has been frustrated by George.'' Accusation of sibling rivalry Alexander is the product of his fourth marriage to Brazilian Denise Shorto.

The baron has three other children -- Francesca and Lorne, from the marriage to his third wife, the Scottish model Fiona Campbell-Walter, and he has adopted the son of his present wife, the former Miss Spain Carmen "Tita'' Cervera, Borja. His wife, who is 22 years his junior, regularly features in European gossip magazines.

Mr. Crystal was speaking yesterday while giving his opening arguments in the complicated civil court case which is expected to take up to a year to complete.

Mr. Crystal added: "We shall have to explore with the witnesses the extent to which any desire on the part of at least one of the other beneficiaries to work at TBG has been frustrated by Georg. I will be making a positive case in relation to that in cross-examination.'' Yesterday the public name calling between father and son began with the lawyers for Heini senior questioning the "honour'' of Heini junior.

The disputed trust's main asset is TBG, an industrial conglomerate that earned $100 million last year.

The baron is attempting to dissolve the trust, claiming that since 1995 his son has not paid him the full 40 million Dutch gilders a year that was agreed upon. It has taken a year and a half to get the case to court, while both sides have ironed out their legal wrangles -- a process which is believed to have cost $14 million in legal bills.

Mr. Crystal showed Puisne Judge Denis Mitchell a document which he claimed proved his point about the baron's children left out of the company. He said it "refers to the Baron's expectation in relation to his younger children''.

In 1993 baron, 78, sold his art collection, one of the world's largest then in private hands, to the Spanish government for $350 million. The collection is housed in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and might become part of the dispute if the Bermuda trust is dissolved. The trust's beneficiaries are Georg Thyssen-Bornemisza, chief executive officer of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Group, and the baron's four other children. The trust was set up to keep the business together, and avoid any disputes between the family about inheritance. The opening arguments are expected to continue for six weeks, and the trial to last up to a year.