A senior official at China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, or Sinopec Group, was taken away for questioning by anti-corruption investigators on Wednesday morning during a corporate meeting, Beijing-based Caixin reported.

Xue Wandong, general manager of Sinopec Oilfield Service Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinopec, is the first executive from the country's largest oil refiner to be placed under investigation after the country's corruption watchdog launched an inspection of Sinopec on Nov 26.

Inspectors from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country's top anti-graft watchdog, are focusing on senior figures within Sinopec who may be promoted to leadership roles, according to a Reuters report. The report also cited Xinhua News Agency as saying the inspection was expected to be completed by the end of December.