Politics
A major scandal has emerged in Indonesia involving the alleged illegal recording of telephone conversations belonging to President Prabowo Subianto, as well as other prominent government, political and social figures.
A major scandal has emerged in Indonesia involving the alleged illegal recording of telephone conversations belonging to President Prabowo Subianto, as well as other prominent government, political and social figures. Following the revelations, three senior police officers, including a former national police chief, have been arrested. Meanwhile, the president has removed his chief of staff, Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, from the position. According to reports in international media, the arrested officers are accused of secretly monitoring the telephone conversations of numerous prominent individuals from 2025 until this year. The alleged surveillance extended beyond the president and cabinet ministers to include journalists, politicians, businesspeople, and leaders of social organizations and non-governmental organizations.
According to international media reports, those arrested include Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who had served as Indonesia’s national police chief for the previous five years. He was appointed presidential chief of staff last month. However, following his arrest in connection with the alleged espionage operation, President Prabowo decided on Wednesday to remove him from the position. Speaking to journalists, Indonesian presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said the alleged surveillance operations had been carried out by certain rogue elements, whose actions could even be considered treasonous. He added that activities of this nature against state institutions and the country's top leadership could pose a serious threat to national interests, particularly the president's security.
Police officials say the three officers monitored the telephone communications of various individuals without receiving formal requests from the relevant investigative authorities. Furthermore, last month, the suspects allegedly ordered the deletion of electronic records related to their covert activities, further increasing the seriousness of the case. Local media have identified the other two arrested officers as Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso. Ahrie Sonta Nasution heads the legal division of the national police, while Eko Hadi Santoso held a senior position at a police educational institution.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's senior minister for legal affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the government had yet to establish why the senior police officers had conducted telephone surveillance on such a large scale or what motives lay behind the operation. The scandal has emerged at a time when President Prabowo Subianto is facing several political and economic challenges at home. Growing public dissatisfaction with his government’s policies has affected his popularity, while a sharp downturn in the country's stock market and the depreciation of the national currency have heightened economic concerns. In addition, the possibility of MSCI downgrading Indonesia's stock market classification has raised further concerns among investors. Against this backdrop, revelations of alleged surveillance targeting the president and senior government figures have further complicated the country's political situation.
Political analyst Yanur Nugroho says the position of chief of staff has become less influential under President Prabowo than it was previously. According to him, the decision to appoint Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo to the position last month may have been intended to remove him from the powerful post of national police chief. Nugroho argues that President Prabowo needs a police chief in whom he can place complete trust, whereas Listyo Sigit Prabowo is considered a close and loyal associate of former president Joko Widodo. He says that, in this context, changes in senior police positions can also be viewed as part of the president's broader political strategy.
