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Aug 20 (Reuters) - A former senior executive from ChinaMobile Ltd's state-owned parent is being investigatedfor "severe discipline violations," coming at a time when a slewof investigations is gripping the country's corporate sector.
Xu Long, who was general manager of China MobileCommunications Corp's Guangdong office, was taken away by theprovincial government's disciplinary committee on Friday,according to the official China News Service. Xu was also theCommunist Party secretary for the company.
"Xu Long has been removed from his posts of China Mobilechairman and general manager, as well as party secretary. He isnow under investigation by relevant departments because ofalleged severe discipline violations," China MobileCommunications said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
The Guangdong province's disciplinary committee was notavailable for comment, while Xu could not be immediately reachedfor comment.
The Chinese government is investigating domestic and foreigncompanies over possible bribery and price-fixing allegations inan effort to clean up the country's corporate sector. Last week,China's price regulator said it planned to investigate thepetroleum, telecommunications, banking and auto sectors next forpossible violations of anti-trust laws.
Several executives and former executives of China MobileCommunications have been investigated by Chinese authorities forgraft over the past several years, according to domestic mediareports.
In May, China Mobile Ltd said its parent was also beefing upits internal supervision after a government audit highlightedproblems in accounting practices and internal management.
In investigations also targeted at foreign firms, China hasfined companies such as Mead Johnson Nutrition Co andDanone SA due to price-fixing and anti-competitivepractices.
Chinese police also accused of British drugmakerGlaxoSmithKline Plc of bribing Chinese officials anddoctors through travel agencies to boost sales illegally andraise the price of its medicines in the country.
