Indonesia deploys troops as president sacks aide accused of wiretapping
Listyo Sigit Prabowo was dismissed a day after his arrest alongside two senior police officers accused of illegally tapping the phones of president Prabowo Subianto and other officials.
Indonesia has deployed troops to its capital city, Jakarta, in response to a wiretapping scandal involving the president's chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo. The president, Prabowo Subianto, sacked Prabowo earlier on Wednesday following his arrest in the alleged treasonous activity. Three senior police officers were detained on Tuesday and accused of illegally tapping the phones of the president, unnamed journalists, politicians, government officials, and businesspeople since early 2025.
The government claims these illegal wiretaps indicate treason and endanger state interests and the safety of the nation's leadership, including the head of state. The president faces multiple challenges, including public discontent over his populist policies and a decline in investor confidence in the US$1.5 trillion economy. Political tensions have been escalating between Prabowo and his predecessor, Joko Widodo, who remains influential despite stepping back from politics.
The military has been regularly deployed ahead of anti-government protests in the past. The incident highlights the ongoing political intrigue and security concerns in Indonesia.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
