HLB Zambia sues China Copper Mines for K11.5m

By GRACE CHAILE

HLB Zambia Audit Services Limited has taken China Copper Mines Limited and three others to court, seeking K11.5 million in damages for alleged professional and corporate reputational damage.
The lawsuit, filed in the Lusaka High Court, names United Quarries Limited, Datong Construction Limited, and Managing Director, Mr Yu Wang Ping as co-defendants.
According to the statement of claim, United Quarries Limited, through Mr Yu, made false representations and fraudulent misrepresentations by producing audit and financial statements for the 2016 financial year, claiming they were prepared by HLB Zambia as their auditors.
Similar misrepresentations were made by Datong Construction Limited, also through Mr. Yu Wang Ping, between 2016 and 2018.
The plaintiff alleged that these actions led to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) summoning HLB Zambia’s Managing Partner for an interview in July 2024, regarding ongoing investigations into money laundering allegations involving the defendants.
HLB Zambia claimed to have only become aware of the false representations in July 2024 and asserted that it is a witness against the defendants.
As a result of the defendants’ actions, HLB Zambia has suffered professional and corporate reputational damage, given its status as a prestigious financial accounting and audit firm with an international presence in over 150 countries.
The company is said to have continued to suffer damages and losses and is seeking punitive damages, interest and costs.