Indonesia’s military began deploying more than 20,000 personnel to Jakarta on Wednesday as authorities investigate an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto. Three senior police generals, including former presidential chief of staff Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, were detained on Sunday in connection with the probe. President Prabowo dismissed Listyo from his cabinet post on Wednesday following the arrests.
The investigation involves allegations that the suspects used the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS) to monitor the communications of the president, cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, and business executives between 2025 and 2026. Investigators said the surveillance was conducted without following procedures established under a 2010 National Police regulation. The presidential palace stated on Wednesday that the unauthorized surveillance of a head of state could be regarded as conduct leading toward treason.
National police officials announced late Tuesday that Listyo, Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution, and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso were being held at the National Police headquarters. Police have seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad, and four flash drives as evidence. The suspects are accused of ordering the deletion of intercepted files in late October to conceal traces of the operation. While the police department initially cited wiretapping and data deletion charges, the Minister of State Secretariat, Prasetyo Hadi, said the breach of sensitive presidential information endangered national interests.
The legal implications for the accused generals are substantial, as investigators are weighing charges that could result in the death penalty. Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra noted that while investigators initially pursued charges under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law and Article 258 of the Criminal Code, which carry maximum sentences of eight and ten years respectively, they are now examining Article 191 for acts that could paralyze the government. The outcome of the probe will likely set a precedent for how the Indonesian legal system handles surveillance by high-ranking officials against the executive branch.
The next steps in the case involve the continued interrogation of ten witnesses and three expert witnesses currently assisting the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency. As of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the suspects have not issued public responses to the allegations. The government has not yet provided a deadline for the conclusion of the inquiry or a specific date for court proceedings. The second phase of the troop deployment, consisting of units from outside the capital, was scheduled to complete its arrival in Jakarta by late Wednesday.
The legal implications for the accused generals are substantial, as investigators are weighing charges that could result in the death penalty. Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra noted that while investigators initially pursued charges under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law and Article 258 of the Criminal Code, which carry maximum sentences of eight and ten years respectively, they are now examining Article 191 for acts that could paralyze the government. The outcome of the probe will likely set a precedent for how the Indonesian legal system handles surveillance by high-ranking officials against the executive branch.
The next steps in the case involve the continued interrogation of ten witnesses and three expert witnesses currently assisting the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency. As of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the suspects have not issued public responses to the allegations. The government has not yet provided a deadline for the conclusion of the inquiry or a specific date for court proceedings. The second phase of the troop deployment, consisting of units from outside the capital, was scheduled to complete its arrival in Jakarta by late Wednesday.