Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto sacked his Chief of Staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was arrested yesterday, along with two other high-ranking police officers.
The three are accused of illegally wiretapping President Prabowo, as well as other prominent figures, including government officials, political leaders, journalists, business leaders, and members of civil society organisations.
In his place, the president appointed, as interim chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ariyo Windutomo, previously head of the Presidential Secretariat.
Listyo, a former national police chief and a close associate of former President Joko Widodo, was arrested alongside Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the police legal division, and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso, who served at the police education and training institute. All three are currently being held at the National Police headquarters detention centre in Jakarta.
Asep Safrudin, head of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) made the announcement during a recent press conference.
Safrudin said that the three individuals allegedly ordered the unauthorised monitoring of various phone numbers between 2025 and October 2026, actions taken without the required legal authorisation and falling outside the scope of what the law defines as legitimate criminal investigations.
The numbers were allegedly entered into the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS), a computer system used by the police to manage wiretaps, without undergoing the verifications required by standard procedures.
Investigators also suspect that electronic records of the intercepted communications were deleted last October in an attempt to cover the tracks of the operation.
The inquiry began following a complaint filed on 30 October by individuals aware of the alleged activities. So far, ten witnesses and three experts have been questioned.
Investigators have also seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad, and four USB flash drives.
A fourth officer, identified by the initials SU, has been questioned as a witness.
The three generals face several potential charges: unlawful interception of electronic communications, unauthorised access to computer systems, and the deletion or manipulation of digital data, offences that carry maximum prison sentences of ten, six, and eight years, respectively.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction, said that the president had been briefed on the matter by the new National Police Chief, General Suyudi Ario Seto.
Yusril described the alleged interception of the president’s communications as a serious issue, one that concerns national security and the integrity of government institutions. He added that, at present, investigators have found no evidence suggesting an attempt to overthrow the government.
This follows remarks by presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi, who had alluded to a potential act “amounting to treason” and conduct that posed a danger to the security of the country’s top leaders.
The government now intends to launch a broader assessment of the electronic surveillance procedures employed by government institutions.
The review will involve the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs as well as the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN), with the aim of examining the authorisations mandated by law and the oversight mechanisms governing interception activities.
This development follows Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s replacement as head of the national police, a decision made by Prabowo on 1 October.
Listyo, who had led the force in 2021, had been appointed chief of the Presidential Staff, while his position was taken over by Suyudi Ario Seto, previously the director of the National Narcotics Agency.
