Indonesia Investigates Wiretapping Scandal Involving President Prabowo

Indonesian authorities are investigating potential treason after discovering that President Prabowo Subianto's phone conversations may have been intercepted. Several senior figures within the administration have been implicated in the wiretapping controversy, including the president's chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who shares a surname with the president but is not related.

Listyo, along with two senior police officers, was arrested for allegedly entering phone numbers, including the president's, into official electronic surveillance systems without proper legal procedures such as warrants or case reports. Officials believe the illicit surveillance operation began around 2025 during Listyo's tenure as national police chief. A presidential spokesperson noted that the involvement of sensitive national security information could constitute treason, an offense punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty in Indonesia, though executions have been halted for a decade.

Investigators revealed that the wiretapping operation extended beyond the president to target various politicians, journalists, NGO representatives, and business figures. A fourth suspect, Slamet Uliandi from the national police criminal investigation unit, was named by police but not detained due to ongoing health issues. Listyo was dismissed from his newly appointed chief of staff position following his arrest. While the police chief maintained that the probe is strictly a matter of law enforcement, many observers view the incident against a backdrop of escalating political friction.

Senior Indonesian officials face arrest and treason investigations over the alleged wiretapping of President Prabowo.

The unfolding crisis highlights a perceived widening divide between President Prabowo and his predecessor, Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, who backed Prabowo's 2024 campaign. Since taking office, Prabowo has shifted priorities away from Jokowi's flagship capital project of Nusantara toward free school meal programs and reshuffled several key allies. Former president Jokowi has publicly urged the public to respect the ongoing legal process.

Why it matters

The scandal involves senior members of President Prabowo Subianto's government, and hint at growing tensions among its elites. This developing political situation underscores shifting dynamics within Indonesia's leadership as key figures navigate legal investigations and administrative changes.