China’s graft-busters investigate Sinopec chief Wang Tianpu
Wang allegedly awarded Sinopec contracts to relatives, mainland report says
The president of China’s largest oil refiner is being investigated on suspicion of corruption, the nation’s disciplinary watchdog said on Monday.
Wang Tianpu, president of China Petrochemical Corporation, also known as Sinopec, was being investigated for “suspected serious violations of law and discipline”, a euphemism for corruption, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said.
Wang is the latest senior oil industry executive to be investigated as President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft drive puts its focus on state-owned firms. Many of those probed have been linked to disgraced former security tsar Zhou Yongkang . State-run media have referred to the officials as the “oil gang”.
The CCDI did not elaborate, but news outlet Caixin said Wang, who became Sinopec’s president in August 2011, was suspected of abusing his power to award contracts to family members. He also allegedly favoured Zhou’s son, Zhou Bin , with equipment sales.
Sinopec said on its Weibo account that it had held a meeting on the investigation into Wang, and that the company supported the anti-corruption initiative. “All people who have violated laws and discipline will be punished regardless of their rank,” it said.
The central authorities have been focusing the anti-graft drive, which has been ongoing for two years, on the energy sector. The CCDI said last month that the general manager of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Liao Yongyuan , was being investigated.