Indonesia government says ex-police chief may have committed 'treason' by wiretapping president - CNA

Listyo Sigit Prabowo had served as the national police chief during the period of the alleged wiretapping. 

Indonesian Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo talks to the media after taking part in the ceremony to form the joint military and police security force for the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023 at the National Monument park in Jakarta on Sep 1, 2023. (File photo: AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

JAKARTA: Indonesia's former police chief may have committed "treason" through his alleged involvement in wiretapping President Prabowo Subianto's telephone, the government said on Wednesday (Nov 4).Listyo Sigit Prabowo has been fired from his latest post as presidential chief of staff, and was arrested on Tuesday with two other senior police officials for allegedly spying on his boss and other high-profile individuals.

"What was done may have fallen into the category of being considered as leading to treason," presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"This also constitutes actions that endanger the security of the interests of the state, including jeopardising the safety of the country's leader," he said.

Under Indonesia's criminal code, the maximum penalty for treason against the president is death by firing squad, though the country has not executed anyone in 10 years.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Government officials and politicians, journalists, NGO representatives and businesspeople were also targeted in the alleged wiretap.

The national police's top detective, Asep Safrudin, said on Tuesday the surveillance operation had been conducted "without any legal basis or without any investigative or inquiry process in accordance with applicable laws".

Listyo has not commented publicly on the allegations.

Prasetyo said on Wednesday said the motive was not yet known.

"When we talk about the head of state ... there is a great deal of information there that is naturally very sensitive, which could endanger ... the interests and the strength of the nation and the state," he said.

Prasetyo added that President Prabowo had expressed his "profound concern" about the revelations.

Prabowo, who took office in 2024, has come under increasing pressure over his government's handling of the economy and response to destructive wildfires.

Students and others have mounted large protests against him in recent weeks, also denouncing what they perceive as growing authoritarianism and rampant corruption.

The president's approval ratings have fallen to a record low, and he reshuffled his Cabinet for a seventh time last month, appointing Listyo, 57, as his chief of staff. 

The men are not related.Listyo had until then served as national police chief during the period of the alleged wiretapping that investigators say started in 2025.

Social media users in Indonesia have speculated on the seeming volatility at the top echelons of government.

Indonesia's military chief this week ordered the deployment of thousands of troops to the capital Jakarta - a move that has added to the disquiet.

Indonesia National Armed Forces (TNI) spokesman Muhammad Nas told AFP "the deployment of troops is a routine measure carried out to ensure the operational readiness of the TNI".

Analyst Khairul Fahmi of Indonesia's Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) told AFP that "greater transparency about the deployment would certainly help prevent unnecessary speculation".

But for the moment, he said, "I see no sufficient evidence to conclude that the deployment signals an imminent military intervention or confrontation between state institutions."

The wiretapping scandal has come with pressure also growing on Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of Prabowo's predecessor and political rival Joko Widodo.

Widodo's party is a member of the ruling coalition, and his popularity is widely seen to have helped Prabowo to the top job, with Gibran by his side.

There have been renewed calls to unseat Gibran after Indonesia's Supreme Court ruled last month to annul his high school certificate - which opponents say disqualifies him from the vice presidency.

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