Indonesia detains three senior police generals over alleged presidential wiretapping

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Wednesday amid allegations of treason. The decision came a day after Listyo's arrest alongside two other top police officers, who are accused of illegally wiretapping the president, cabinet members, journalists, politicians, and businesspeople between 2025 and the present.

Listyo had previously served as the national police chief for five years before assuming the position of chief of staff last month. Presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi stated that the sacking was due to actions that could be considered treason, endangering the state's interests and the safety of the nation's leadership. The motive for the wiretapping remains unclear, according to Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia's senior minister for legal affairs.

Police investigators are currently examining the suspects for unlawful wiretaps, unauthorized deletion of monitoring records, and the surveillance of various high-ranking individuals. Analysts suggest that the chief of staff position under President Prabowo has become less significant, leading to Listyo's transfer to the role to distance him from the critical police chief position.