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Indonesia government says ex-police chief may have committed ‘treason’ by wiretapping president
Indonesia’s government says former police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo may have committed treason by allegedly overseeing wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent people. Listyo was arrested with two senior police officials and removed from his post as presidential chief of staff, as officials described the unauthorised surveillance as a threat to state security.
Investigators say the operation began in 2025 and was conducted without a legal basis or proper inquiry; the motive remains unknown, and Listyo has not commented publicly. Indonesia’s criminal code allows a death sentence for treason against the president, though the country has carried out no executions in a decade. The allegations come amid protests, falling approval ratings and public unease over a recent troop deployment to Jakarta, which an analyst said was not evidence of imminent military intervention.
In short
- Indonesia alleges Listyo may have committed treason through surveillance.
- Investigators say the wiretapping lacked legal authorisation.
- The scandal unfolds amid political pressure and public unease.
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The case for
If the allegations are supported by evidence, secretly surveilling the president and other prominent people without legal authority could undermine the rule of law and threaten state security. A serious investigation and proportionate accountability would help protect privacy and ensure that powerful officials are subject to the same legal limits as others.
The case against
The allegations remain unproven, the motive is unknown, and Listyo has not publicly responded; arresting a former police chief and invoking treason could risk treating suspicion as guilt. Given the grave possible penalty and the tense political climate, due process, independent scrutiny and safeguards against politically motivated prosecution are essential.
Explained simply
Indonesia’s president is Prabowo Subianto, who took office in 2024. Listyo Sigit Prabowo is a former national police chief who later served as the president’s chief of staff, a role that links the police and government leadership.
Indonesia’s police investigate suspected crimes, while the government oversees national security and public administration. Surveillance of political leaders is subject to legal limits, and allegations that officials authorised it without legal grounds raise questions about the use of state powers.
The case is unfolding amid public protests and concern about the role of security forces in politics. Treason is among Indonesia’s most serious crimes, but the country has not carried out an execution in a decade.