Indonesia's Police Chief Summoned to Testify in Wiretapping Scandal
President Prabowo Subianto is at the center of an investigation into allegations that his phone was tapped by police.
Indonesia's police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, has been summoned to testify before a parliamentary panel investigating allegations that President Prabowo Subianto was targeted in an illicit wiretapping operation.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through Indonesia's political and security circles after three senior police generals were taken into custody. Among those detained is General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who serves as chief of staff to President Prabowo and has close ties to former President Joko Widodo.
The wiretap allegations have been referred to the government as a potential case of treason. In response, the authorities have deployed 20,000 troops to Jakarta, although so far there is no visible military presence on the capital's streets, with most personnel remaining in barracks on standby.
Lawmakers are keen to determine who gave the order for the president's phone to be tapped, and General Sigit Prabowo is expected to provide crucial insight into this aspect of the investigation when he appears before the parliamentary panel.
The latest revelations in Indonesia's high-stakes politics have deepened the rift between President Prabowo and former president Jokowi, who is closely tied to the main suspects in the wiretapping case.
Jokowi, whose popularity has long overshadowed Prabowo's decision-making, may be facing a new challenge as Prabowo seeks to assert his independence from the former president's influence. This development could potentially lead to an open confrontation between the two leaders.
National Police Chief Gen. Suyudi Ario Seto is set to face questioning by parliament's Commission III, which is probing the motive behind the wiretapping operation and investigating whether others were involved in the unauthorized surveillance.
The commission has vowed to uncover the truth behind the allegations, with Chairman Habiburokhman stating that anyone found to be involved will face legal consequences. The investigation is expected to shed light on the extent of the wiretap operation, which allegedly targeted not only Prabowo but also Cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, civil society leaders, and business executives.
Amnesty International has called for a thorough investigation into the matter, warning that the wiretap operation could have been used to intimidate critics and undermine civil liberties in Indonesia.
As anti-government protests continue to sweep across Indonesia's major cities, demonstrators are calling for accountability in the wiretap case. Clashes erupted after a protest by approximately 2,000 students and activists in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, resulting in the detention of 154 people.
In addition to Listyo Sigit Prabowo, two other high-ranking police officials have been detained: Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the National Police Legal Division, and Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior instructor at the National Police Education and Training Institute. Both are two-star police generals who face internal ethics hearings stemming from their alleged involvement in the wiretap case.
Slamet Uliandi, another key figure implicated in the scandal, has been identified as the head of the Criminal Investigation Agency's Information and Communications Technology Division. However, he remains at large due to health reasons that have prevented his detention.
The internal ethics hearing for Ahrie Sonta Nasution resulted in his dishonorable discharge from the police on Tuesday. Similar proceedings against Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Slamet Uliandi, and Eko Hadi Santoso are expected soon, according to police spokesperson Johnny Eddizon Isir.
None of the suspects have publicly commented on the allegations, leaving many questions unanswered as the investigation continues.
The controversy surrounding the alleged wiretapping of President Prabowo has added to the existing tensions between him and his predecessor, former President Widodo. This is particularly evident in the resignation offer made by National Police Chief Raka on Tuesday, in response to an investigation into his academic credentials.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that President Prabowo and former President Widodo had a close relationship, with the latter supporting Prabowo's presidential campaign and even choosing his son as running mate. This has led some analysts to predict a prolonged period of political turmoil in the country.
Commenting on the matter, Laksmana said that the current situation is likely to have far-reaching consequences for Indonesia's politics and security. He warned that the breakdown in relations between Prabowo and Widodo could lead to a long and painful split with significant repercussions across the nation.
The alleged wiretapping took place between 2025 and 2026, when President Prabowo was still in office and Listyo Sigit Prabowo held the position of national police chief. The investigation into the matter has so far revealed that Nasution requested permission to delete recordings of Prabowo's telephone conversations.
The details of the case are slowly emerging, with last week's revelations showing that Uliandi approved the request to delete the recordings and the files were subsequently deleted.
Lawmakers have continued to question the chief of police over allegations that wiretaps were used to target President Prabowo. The police chief's lawyer has stated that his client will cooperate fully in clarifying the case.
The lawyer, Krisna Murti, issued a video statement assuring full cooperation, stating "Our client will be open to clarifying this case."
Facts based on reporting originally published by ABC News International.
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