SHENZHEN - Three more suspects implicated in the collapse of a construction waste pile that killed 69 people in Shenzhen last month were arrested on Monday, according to the local procuratorate.

The suspects, who were not identified, were accused of failing to ensure safety management, which eventually led to the major accident, according to a statement from Bao'an District Procuratorate.

So far 20 people have been arrested over the incident on Dec 20.

Meanwhile, 12 other suspects are being investigated by local prosecutors for abuse of power and dereliction of duty, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Monday.

The suspects include Deng Zhixiong, deputy director of Shenzhen Guangming New District Urban Management Bureau; Zeng Keting, deputy director of the Municipal Service Center; and Zheng Cunhui, engineer with Shenzhen Water and Soil Conservation Supervision and Monitoring Station, according to the statement.

A total of 69 bodies have been recovered as of Friday, another eight people are still unaccounted for, the rescue headquarters said.

The incident was the result of work safety mismanagement rather than geological causes, according to a State Council investigation.