Indonesia Launches Treason Probe After Arrests for Wiretapping President
President Prabowo Subianto's government arrested former police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo and other generals for illegal wiretapping and suspected treason.
Indonesian authorities arrested former police chief and Presidential Chief of Staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo and two other generals on suspicion of wiretapping President Prabowo Subianto. The presidential palace has since accused the men, along with a fourth general, of treason, alleging they helped foster government protests. National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto announced on Thursday that the Indonesian National Police are investigating whether the suspects conspired to overthrow the government.
Investigators claim approximately 6,000 individuals, including top politicians and businesspeople, were illegally surveilled from 2025 until last month. The probe includes allegations of unauthorized access to electronic systems and the deletion of electronic documents. The arrests are viewed as a political showdown between President Prabowo and former President Joko Widodo, as Listyo is considered a close ally of Widodo.
The crisis coincides with the resignation of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of Joko Widodo. Raka tendered his resignation amid impeachment efforts following a Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia ruling that he failed to prove his high school graduation. In response to the resulting unrest, the government deployed over 20,000 troops to Jakarta.
