Two more senior China Resources bosses held in wake of Song Lin graft probe

Two senior executives at companies in the China Resources group were detained immediately after the state-run conglomerate's former chairman, Song Lin, was placed under investigation for corruption, sources familiar with the matter have revealed.

China Resources Capital Holdings chief executive Wu Ding, 49, was taken away hours after the Communist Party's anti-graft agency said last Thursday that it was probing Song, two sources said on condition of anonymity.

Wang Hongkun, the executive director of China Resources Land, was detained the same day, different sources said. The detentions of Wu and Wang showed the investigation into China Resources was widening, the sources added.

The anti-graft agency said Song was "suspected of grave violations of discipline and law" - a form of words it often uses to describe corruption.

A company statement released by China Resources Land on Tuesday said Wang, 46, had resigned because of ill health. A company spokeswoman said she was not aware of the "rumours" about his detention.

One of the sources said: "Wu is a close friend of Song and has connections with some senior officials."

Meanwhile, Li Fuzuo, the chairman of China Resources Pharmaceutical Group, was also on leave, the company's spokeswoman said.