By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
Indonesian authorities have detained three senior police officers accused of illegally intercepting telephone communications belonging to President Prabowo Subianto and several other prominent figures, including government officials, politicians, journalists and businesspeople.
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency announced on Tuesday, November 3, that the three officers had been named suspects in an investigation involving alleged illegal wiretapping, unauthorised access to electronic systems and the deletion of electronic data.
Police identified the suspects by their initials as LSP, ASN and EH. The Associated Press identified them as Presidential Chief of Staff General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, National Police Legal Division chief Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution and senior police instructor Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso.
According to the head of the Criminal Investigation Agency, Asep Safrudin, the suspects allegedly ordered the interception of telephone numbers between 2025 and 2026 without the required investigative requests, police reports or legal authorisation.
The numbers were reportedly entered into the police’s Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS) without proper verification. Investigators also alleged that the interceptions were unrelated to any legitimate criminal investigation.
Asep said that in October 2026, files containing intercepted communications were allegedly deleted from the system to conceal evidence.
Police have questioned 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses as part of the investigation. They have also seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad and four flash drives as evidence.
The three officers are being held at the National Police headquarters detention facility in Jakarta.
They face potential charges relating to unlawful interception, unauthorised access to electronic systems and the unlawful alteration or deletion of electronic information. The offences carry maximum prison sentences of up to 10 years, six or seven years, and eight years respectively, depending on the specific provisions applied.
Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the investigation was continuing, adding that authorities had yet to establish the motive behind the alleged surveillance.
Neither President Prabowo nor the three suspects had publicly commented on the allegations in reports available on Tuesday.
The case has attracted particular attention because one of the suspects, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, previously served as Indonesia’s national police chief before being appointed Presidential Chief of Staff following a government reshuffle in October.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the full extent of the alleged surveillance operation or whether additional individuals will be implicated as investigations continue.