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Indonesian president’s chief of staff dismissed over alleged wiretapping
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, after police arrested him over alleged illegal phone tapping. A presidential spokesperson said the alleged conduct could amount to treason and threaten state interests and the safety of national leaders.
Police say the tapping targeted several prominent people, including the president and cabinet ministers, and took place between last year and this year. Two other serving senior police officers were also arrested; authorities allege the suspects tried to conceal the operation by ordering intercepted files deleted last month. The motive remains unclear, and more than 20,000 troops were deployed in Jakarta on Wednesday, which the military described as a routine security measure.
In short
- Indonesia’s president dismissed his chief of staff after a wiretapping arrest.
- The alleged targets included the president and cabinet ministers.
- The motive is unclear as the military deployed over 20,000 troops in Jakarta.
Explained simply
Indonesia is a republic in which the president leads the government and appoints senior officials. Prabowo Subianto became president in 2024, and his chief of staff helped manage work at the centre of his administration.
Police are responsible for investigating crime, while the military has a separate role in national defence and security. The case involves allegations that senior police officers intercepted private calls, including those of top government figures; the claims have not established why the calls were targeted.
The allegations matter because unauthorised surveillance of national leaders could raise questions about the use of police powers and the security of government communications. The arrests also involve serving senior officers, bringing the conduct of law-enforcement institutions into focus.