Indonesia dismisses presidential chief of staff in wiretap case

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed his chief of staff, former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, after investigators arrested him and two senior police officers in an alleged illegal wiretapping case. Reuters and the Associated Press said the inquiry concerns surveillance of the president, journalists, politicians and businesspeople dating from 2025. Listyo is not related to the president.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive or proved the allegations in court. Officials say possible treason is among the lines being investigated, but that is not a charge that can be treated as established fact. The State Secretariat confirmed Listyo’s dismissal, while the cabinet said the president was concerned by the alleged surveillance and wanted a thorough investigation.

More than 20,000 troops were deployed around Jakarta as the case became public. The military described the activity as training and security support; critics warned that the scale could deepen tension between the armed forces and police. The investigation now tests whether authorities disclose the legal basis, scope and chain of command behind any interception while preserving due process for those arrested.