Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recovered Rp 175.99 billion (US$19.5 million) in state assets from convicted corrupters in 2010.

"The KPK's enforcement unit confiscated Rp 175.99 billion in state funds that were stolen by corruptors," KPK deputy chief for prevention Haryono Umar said Wednesday. In comparison, KPK investigators seized Rp 142.99 billion in 2009.

Haryono said in 2010 the KPK prevention unit also successfully prevented corruptors from stealing Rp 526.26 billion from the state treasury. "So, the total of the country's money the KPK saved in 2010 was Rp 702.25 billion," he said.

Newly appointed KPK chair Busyro Muqoddas said preventing corruption was as important as putting corruptors in jail.

"Prevention is important. New corruptors keep popping up if we only put those who are caught in jail and do not change the system that provides room for corruption to occur," Busyro said.

Another KPK deputy chief for prevention Mochammad Jasin said his office had already returned the money to state coffers, as well as the treasuries of local administrations.

In 2010, the KPK allocated Rp 15 billion of its Rp 260 billion budget for a prevention unit and Rp 9 billion for an enforcement unit.