A dozen officials in southern China's Guangdong Province have been punished after a care center scandal.

An official investigation into the Lianxi care center in Xinfeng county, Shaoguan city, found embezzlement of public funds and abuse of the homeless, elderly and mentally ill in the facility.

Chen Jinghui, secretary of the the Xinfeng County Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has been removed from his post. Three senior officials from Shaoguan city's civil affairs bureau have also been removed from their posts.

In addition, nine officials have been put under coercive measures or arrested over misfeasance or dereliction of duty, according to investigators.

Earlier, 10 people from the care center, including the director, investor and caregivers, had been detained for either embezzlement of public funds or physical abuse.