Indonesia arrests former police chief over alleged wiretapping of President Prabowo

The alleged wiretapping extended beyond President Prabowo Subianto's phone. According to Japan Times, the suspects are accused of tapping phones belonging to the president, journalists, politicians and business people from 2025 into 2026.

The arrests reach into the senior ranks of Indonesia's police. Arab News reported that police detained three senior police generals suspected of illegally monitoring Prabowo and dozens of other prominent figures.

On October 1, Prabowo removed Listyo Sigit Prabowo as National Police chief and appointed him Chief of Presidential Staff in a Cabinet reshuffle, according to World News CNA.

Listyo had led the national police during the period of the alleged wiretapping, World News CNA reported. That places the allegations in the period before his move to the presidential staff.

On Tuesday, November 3, police announced that three people had been arrested for allegedly tapping the president's phone, according to South China Morning Post. World News CNA identified Listyo as one of those arrested.

By November 4, the government was publicly raising the possibility of treason. The Hindu reported that a presidential spokesperson said the alleged conduct might fall into that category.

On Wednesday, November 4, Prabowo sacked Listyo as chief of staff following his arrest, according to South China Morning Post.

Three senior police generals have been detained, and Listyo has lost his presidential staff position, according to Arab News and South China Morning Post. The wiretapping allegations have not been established as proven facts in the supplied coverage.

The government's reference to treason raises the stakes, but the statement reported by The Hindu was conditional. It should not be read as a conviction or confirmation of a formal treason charge.

The central questions are what evidence supports the wiretapping allegations, who authorised the surveillance and what charges the detained officials will face. The supplied reports do not settle those points or establish whether the government's treason warning will lead to a formal charge.