Indonesian authorities have named four senior police officers as suspects in an alleged illegal surveillance operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures, a case that has exposed rival networks inside the security establishment and renewed concerns over political misuse of wiretapping. Investigators say communications were intercepted without proper authorization in 2025 and 2026, and that records of the operation were later deleted or attempts were made to delete them. Former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is not related to the president, was among those arrested; he became the president’s chief of staff in October, just weeks before the scandal broke. New police chief Suyudi Ario Seto told a parliamentary panel that the surveillance also targeted palace officials, ministries, state institutions, lawmakers, party figures, governors, anti-corruption officials, activists and students.
Key Takeaways: Four senior officers are suspects in unauthorized surveillance of President Prabowo Subianto; former police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo was arrested and had recently become presidential chief of staff. Police chief Suyudi Ario Seto says targets included palace officials, ministries, lawmakers, governors, anti-corruption officials, activists and students. A parliamentary commission is examining motives and possible involvement by other senior figures, while police have opened a treason-related investigation.
The affair matters because Indonesia’s police and intelligence agencies have long faced accusations of monitoring politicians, journalists and activists. Yohanes Sulaiman of Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani told DW that surveillance is widespread and laws are often flouted because eavesdropping is not properly regulated, especially by law enforcement. Gatra Priyandita of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said intelligence and law enforcement have long played a role in political competition. The historical backdrop includes Suharto’s authoritarian New Order, which collapsed in 1998 and used intelligence agencies to monitor opponents; past controversies include a 1999 leaked presidential phone recording and the 2024 surveillance of Deputy Attorney General Febrie Adriansyah by counterterrorism unit Densus 88.
Officially, Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law prohibits unauthorized interception, while other legislation permits surveillance for specified law-enforcement and intelligence purposes. Despite these safeguards, Sulaiman said it could be argued “that the police and intelligence are essentially unconstrained.” A parliamentary commission is investigating the motive behind the wiretapping and whether other senior figures were involved. Amnesty International has called for investigations to determine whether the operation was used to intimidate government critics and weaken civil liberties. The government ordered an additional 20,000 troops to Jakarta as a precaution, although there was no indication the wiretap was part of a larger campaign intended to bring down Prabowo’s administration. The affair has intensified tensions between Prabowo and predecessor Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, while exposing deeper problems with the powers and political loyalties of Indonesia’s security establishment.
The next phase will center on the parliamentary inquiry and the police’s treason-related investigation, with attention on whether the suspects acted alone or as part of a wider network. The case is likely to intensify debate over legal safeguards for surveillance, civil-liberties oversight and the political neutrality of Indonesia’s security agencies. For Prabowo’s government, the priority is to contain the fallout while reassuring the public and investors that institutions remain under civilian control. Officials have not yet indicated whether further arrests or institutional changes are expected.
Source: www.dw.com