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Indonesia's president sacks chief of staff over wiretap arrests

Published

President Prabowo Subianto sacked Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a former national police chief, a day after he and two other senior police officers were detained. The military said thousands of troops were being mobilised in Jakarta.

Police detained three senior officers on Tuesday over alleged illegal tapping of the phones of the president and others. One was Listyo, who became chief of staff a few weeks earlier. Reports said the taps also targeted journalists, politicians, officials and business people since early 2025.

Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said rogue individuals carried out the taps. He said their acts pointed to treason and threatened state interests and the safety of the head of state. Sugiono, secretary-general of the Gerindra party, called the affair insubordination within the government.

Legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the government had not yet found the motive. Navy spokesperson Tunggul said the troop deployment was meant to protect security and stability. He also linked it to training planned near Jakarta.

Researcher Sana Jaffrey of the Australian National University said the scandal raises questions about how the government handles the matter. She also warned of possible tension between the military and police loyal to Listyo. Amnesty International in Indonesia urged authorities to name the wiretap targets. It warned that unchecked, the scandal might allow a secret police to be used against opponents.

Key facts

Who
Listyo Sigit Prabowo (Indonesian president's chief of staff until sacked; former national police…); Prabowo Subianto (President of Indonesia); Prasetyo Hadi (presidential spokesperson); Tunggul (navy spokesperson)
What
Three senior police officers, including chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo, were detained on Tuesday accused of illegally tapping the phones of President Prabowo Subianto and others. The government said the wiretaps pointed to treason, and the military said thousands of troops were being mobilised in the capital for security.
When
4 November 2026
Where
Indonesia, Jakarta
Status
Reported

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