Symbolic imageIndonesia's president fires chief of staff after wiretapping arrest
President Prabowo Subianto dismissed chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo on Wednesday, a day after his arrest over alleged illegal wiretapping. The government says the case may amount to treason.
Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is not related to the president, led the national police for five years before becoming chief of staff in October. Police arrested the former police chief on Tuesday, 3 November, with two other senior officers, including legal division head Ahrie Sonta Nasution, according to local media. They are accused of tapping the phones of the president, cabinet ministers, journalists, NGO representatives and businesspeople in 2025 and 2026. Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi blamed "certain rogue individuals" and said the acts may amount to treason, which can carry the death penalty.
Investigation
Police are investigating illegal surveillance, unauthorised access to electronic systems and deletion of data, after suspects allegedly ordered intercepted files erased last month. Top detective Asep Safrudin said the tapping had no legal basis, and legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said no motive has been established.
20,000 soldiers in Jakarta
The military deployed more than 20,000 soldiers to the capital on Wednesday. Spokesperson Major-General Muhammad Nas called it normal procedure and did not say whether it was linked to the arrests, which fuelled speculation, FAZ reports.