Indonesia detains three police generals in alleged wiretapping of President Prabowo
Indonesian police named three generals as suspects in an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto, ministers and entrepreneurs, according to reports on November 3, 2026. The government plans to review wiretapping authorities as investigators examine the operation.
Suspects detained in Jakarta
Presidential Chief of Staff Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a former National Police chief, is among those detained, National Police Criminal Investigation Agency head Asep Safrudin said on November 3. The other suspects are Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution, who heads the National Police Legal Division, and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior instructor at the National Police Education and Training Institute.
All three are being held at Bareskrim prison, the detention center at National Police headquarters in Jakarta, police said. Another individual, identified by the initials SU, is being questioned as a witness.
Police and Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the suspects face three charges: Article 258 of Indonesia's Criminal Code (Law No. 1/2023), punishable by up to 10 years in prison; Article 332 of that code, carrying up to six years; and Article 32 of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, carrying up to eight years.
Alleged interception and deletion of records
The allegations cover wiretapping between 2025 and 2026. Safrudin said the suspects ordered interceptions without complying with Perkap No. 5/2010, a National Police regulation governing the procedures. Several phone numbers were added without verification to the Lawful Interception Management System, known as LIMS. Kompas reported that the operation intercepted communications through mobile phones.
Investigators also allege that the suspects ordered the removal of files and logs containing intercepted communications from LIMS in October 2026. Police said the deletions were intended to conceal evidence and eliminate traces of the operation.
Safrudin said investigators had taken statements from 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses. Evidence seized included four flash drives, 11 mobile phones and an iPad.
Government review and unanswered questions
National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto informed Prabowo that he was among the alleged targets, Yusril said. The minister called the case a serious national issue, according to Kompas, which also reported the government's plan to evaluate wiretapping authorities.
After Listyo was named a suspect, the National Police, known as Polri, referred to its "clean on the inside" program, Kompas reported.
Yusril said investigators had found no indication of treason. As of November 3, authorities had not disclosed the alleged operation's aim or motive, saying the investigation was ongoing. Yusril had also not confirmed whether Vice President Gibran was among the targets, according to Kompas.