Former Indonesian Police Chief Named Suspect in Prabowo Wiretapping Case
Indonesian police have named former National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and two other senior officers as suspects in the alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto. All three are in detention, while the force's inspector general says the conduct under investigation was not institutional policy.
Three senior officers detained
Police announced the suspects' detention at a November 3, 2026, press conference at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta. Alongside Listyo, investigators named Police Law Division Chief Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso. The three are being held at the headquarters' detention center in South Jakarta.
Commissioner General Asep Safrudin, who heads the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, said the alleged surveillance extended beyond the president to state officials, political figures, media and leaders of community organizations. He said the suspects had conducted wiretapping without following the required procedures.
Listyo had left the police chief's post a month earlier. Appointed by then-President Joko Widodo, he served from January 27, 2021, to October 1, 2026. Tempo described that five-year, eight-month tenure as the longest in the position.
During an October 1 Cabinet reshuffle, Prabowo removed Listyo as police chief and appointed him Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP). Listyo succeeded Dudung Abdurachman, who became Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.
Alleged surveillance and deletion of records
Police say the wiretapping took place in 2025 and 2026 through the force's Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS). Investigators allege that phone numbers were entered into its server without verification, even though the numbers had no connection to an investigation or criminal case.
In October 2026, the suspects allegedly ordered files containing intercepted communications deleted from LIMS to conceal their actions. The case surfaced on October 30, when officers aware of the alleged activities reported them to the Criminal Investigation Agency, known as Bareskrim.
By the November 3 briefing, investigators had questioned 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses and seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad and four flash drives. Police said they were using a scientific crime investigation approach.
Charges carry a possible combined 24-year sentence
The suspects face charges under Article 258 of Law No. 1 of 2023, Indonesia's Criminal Code (KUHP). Asep Safrudin said the provision allows up to 10 years in prison for unlawfully listening to, recording, altering, obstructing or documenting electronic transmissions that are not public.
Police are also applying Article 332, paragraph (1) and/or (2), of the Criminal Code, carrying a six-year prison term, and Article 32, paragraph (1), of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, carrying up to eight years. The latter provision covers intentionally and unlawfully altering, damaging, deleting, moving or hiding electronic information belonging to another person or the public.
The Straits Times reported that the three charges concern illegal wiretapping, unauthorized access to another person's computer and unauthorized deletion of electronic information, with a combined possible penalty of up to 24 years in prison.
Police distinguish suspects' actions from force policy
At the Tuesday night briefing, National Police Inspector General Commissioner General Asep Edi Suheri said the investigation concerned individuals rather than a policy of the National Police, or Polri.
He said the Inspectorate of General Supervision, known as Irwasum, was overseeing the examination under Police Regulation No. 4 of 2025 to ensure professional and proportionate handling. He also pointed to Police Regulation No. 5 of 2010, which governs the force's monitoring center, as a framework for ensuring compliance with established procedures.
Asep Edi Suheri said police would keep public services operating normally.
Purpose remains under investigation
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Institutions Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on November 3 that investigators had so far found no indication linking the wiretapping to an attempt to overthrow the government.
Yusril said the content and purpose of the intercepted communications remained under investigation. He added that Prabowo had been informed of the case and had directed law enforcement to act firmly under prevailing law.