One of the most senior executives at China Mobile has resigned after he became involved in a police inquiry over “financial-related issues”, the latest in the fallout from a bribery investigation where a former deputy chairman was handed a suspended death sentence last year.

Lu Xiangdong, a vice-president and executive director in charge of development strategy, planning, construction and procurement, stepped down because of his inability to perform his duties “under his current personal circumstances”, the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers said yesterday.

Government and state-owned enterprises in China frequently refer to corruption as “financial-related issues”. The company had issued a statement on March 2 saying Mr Lu was assisting in an investigation by judicial authorities.