Watchdog says Sinopec chief faces investigation

Wang was appointed vice-president of Qilu Petrochemical Company, a subsidiary of Sinopec, in March 1999.

In September 2000, he became president of Sinopec Qilu Company and moved on to become vice-president of Sinopec the following year.

In March 2005, he was appointed president of Sinopec, and he became a board director in 2006.

Prosecutors file 7,500 corruption cases

More than 7,500 corruption cases were filed by prosecutors across the country during the first three months of this year, most of them involving bribes of over 50,000 yuan ($8,000).

A total of 9,636 people were placed under investigation on corruption charges in the first-quarter cases, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Monday.

It said 6,649 cases with more than 100,000 yuan of embezzlement or bribes accounted for 88 percent of the total number of cases.

Prosecutors at all levels have stepped up efforts in combating corruption in sectors concerning public interest, including social security, public health and education. Nearly 6,000 were held in these sectors, according to the top procuratorate.

From January to March, 3,265 individuals were prosecuted on corruption charges.

During the same period, the courts ruled that 4,384 suspects were guilty in a total of 3,565 corruption cases.