Police say three senior officers, including Listyo Sigit Prabowo, ordered illegal wiretapping of the president and others, and the palace now says treason may be involved.
Tamrah News Desk | November 4, 2026
The Prabowo wiretapping case deepened on Wednesday after Indonesian police arrested three senior officers, including presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on suspicion of illegal wiretapping targeting the president, ministers and other public figures. According to Reuters, police announced the arrests late on Tuesday, and the government confirmed the chief of staff was among those held. Kompas reported that the palace is now processing a decree to remove him.
What Police Say Happened in the Prabowo Wiretapping Case
Asep Safrudin, head of the National Police crimes unit, said the suspects targeted the phone of the president along with state officials, political figures, community leaders, media, advocacy groups and business people. ABC News reported that police allege the tapping ran from 2025 to 2026 and ignored procedures set by a 2010 National Police regulation. Police also say several numbers were entered into the Lawful Interception Management System without checks, and that the suspects recently ordered intercepted files deleted to hide the activity.
The Jakarta Post reported that a police officer who learned of the alleged crime filed a report on Friday. Asep Safrudin told reporters the numbers were tapped
“without any legal basis.”
Investigators have examined 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses and seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad and four flash drives, ABC News said.
Who Are the Suspects in the Indonesia Wiretapping Case?
Police gave only the initials LSP, AHN and EH. Reuters said local media identified the other two as Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the National Police legal division, and Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior officer at the police education institution. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is not related to the president, led the National Police until he became presidential chief of staff last month. ABC News reported that all three are held at the National Police headquarters detention centre. Reuters said it could not immediately reach the suspects or their lawyers.
Charges and Possible Prison Terms
Asep Safrudin said the suspects violated laws on illegal interception, unauthorised access to electronic systems and deleting electronic data, which carry maximum prison terms of 10, six and eight years. According to ABC News, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the coordinating minister for law, said the suspects would be charged under Article 258 and Article 332 of the new criminal code and Article 32 of the electronic information law.
Will Listyo Sigit Prabowo Be Removed as Chief of Staff?
Cabinet Secretary Prasetyo Hadi told reporters on Wednesday that a presidential decree to end Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s post is being processed, Kompas reported. The Jakarta Post reported that Prabowo Subianto sacked his chief of staff on Wednesday. The two outlets describe the status of the removal differently, so the final step is not yet confirmed here.
Government Position on Treason
Reuters reported that Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday the government had found no evidence linking the suspects to treason, adding the case was
“at the early stage of investigation.”
On Wednesday, Prasetyo Hadi said at the Presidential Palace that the conduct may be considered “an act leading to treason,” according to Tempo. He said it threatened national security, including the safety of the president. Reuters said the government has yet to determine a motive. Asep Safrudin has said the purpose of the tapping remains under investigation.
Pressure on Prabowo Subianto
Reuters described the probe as a fresh blow to Prabowo Subianto, who faces a slumping approval rating, record stock market selloffs, a declining currency and warnings of an equities downgrade by index provider MSCI. The Jakarta Post added that his government also faces pressure over the economy and destructive wildfires.
What Happens Next
Police have questioned 13 people and are investigating whether others were involved, Reuters reported. The Jakarta Post said a fourth person is also under investigation. At the time of ABC News’s report, neither Prabowo Subianto nor the three suspects had responded publicly. Police led by Asep Safrudin have not yet explained what material was collected. Yusril Ihza Mahendra said legal rights of the suspects would be respected. Readers can follow related coverage in the Tamrah News world politics section and our politics category.
Conclusion
The Prabowo wiretapping case now involves an arrested presidential chief of staff, a treason question on which officials have given different statements, and a National Police investigation described as early. Readers searching for the Indonesia wiretapping scandal, the Listyo Sigit Prabowo arrest, news that Prabowo’s chief of staff was arrested, Indonesia police wiretapping president updates, the Prabowo treason claim or illegal wiretapping Indonesia developments can follow each new statement from Prabowo Subianto’s government and Yusril Ihza Mahendra on Tamrah News.
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