Jakarta – The National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have agreed to form a quick response unit to handle graft cases in the regions.

"[Police and the KPK] will form a quick response unit, a pilot project to handle regions with many corruption cases," said KPK chairman Agus Raharjo on Monday after meeting with the police.

Agus said cooperation would be beneficial for law enforcement, especially in complicated cases that required many investigators.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said the unit would be tasked with mapping corruption motives in local administrations. The team will also assess and recommend fixes to the regions' budgeting systems so that such practices can be prevented.

He cited as an example social assistance funds that were often misused by regional heads, including in the latest case implicating suspended North Sumatra governor Gatot Pudjo Nugroho. "Funding in the form of social assistance should be scrutinized so that in the future there will be no corruption related to it," said Badrodin.

Badrodin said it was also common for corruption to occur in the recruitment of civil servant in which officials asked for money to pass an applicant in a test.

The newly installed KPK leadership has been criticized for its aim to focus on prevention instead of prosecution. Many worry that focusing on preventive measures may reduce deterrent effects and perpetrators would not fear committing corruption.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/05/national-scene-KPK-police-form-joint-unit.html