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's president sacked his chief of staff on Wednesday following an arrest in a wiretapping scandal, which prosecutors deemed an act of treason, according to presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was appointed chief of staff recently, was among three senior police officers detained on Tuesday, accused of illegally tapping phones of various individuals since early 2025.
The government has not determined the motive behind the wiretaps, reported Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia's senior minister for legal affairs. The scandal unfolds as the president, a retired army general, faces multiple challenges, including public discontent over his spending policies and concerns about investor confidence in the US$1.5 trillion economy.
The deployment of thousands of troops to Jakarta aims to "safeguard and protect the stability of Indonesia's security," as stated by navy spokesman Tunggul. Indonesian political dynamics have been tense, with former president Joko Widodo retaining significant influence despite stepping back from active politics. Military personnel regularly deployed in Indonesia ahead of anti-government protests, according to available data.
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