The provisional liquidator of Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Milingo Lungu, has been suspended, the country's Official Receiver said in a statement on Thursday.
Zambia's previous government, which owns 20% of KCM through State mining investment firm ZCCM-IH, handed control of KCM to Lungu in 2019, triggering a protracted dispute with Vedanta Resources, which owns the remaining 80%.
Official Receiver Natasha Kalimukwa suspended Lungu after receiving a complaint from ZCCM-IH "relating to contract mismanagement, financial mismanagement, and asset mismanagement", she said in a statement.
Lungu told Reuters the Official Receiver has no power to suspend him, as he was appointed by the court.
"I will continue to discharge my functions as provided the Court Order," Lungu said in a text message.
Lungu was arrested in September and charged with money laundering and the theft of more than $2-million. He has denied the charges in court.
Lungu's suspension will not stop the liquidation process or lead to a handover of the mining operations to Vedanta, Kalimukwa said.
Vedanta did not immediately reply to a request for comment.