Prabowo sacks his chief of staff who allegedly wiretapped him

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit, after Sigit was arrested for allegedly illegally wiretapping him.

The decision was announced at a press conference on Nov. 4, with Aryo Windutomo appointed as the acting chief of staff, according to Indonesian media outlet Kompas.

It was reported that Sigit's purported wiretapping targeted Prabowo, state officials, political figures, the media, and civil society organisation leaders.

Two high-ranking Indonesian police officers, Police Legal Affairs Division Chief Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso, were also named in the case as suspects on Nov. 3.

Alleged wiretapping occurred in 2025 and 2026

Indonesia's Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the National Police, Commissioner General Asep Safrudin, said the alleged acts occurred throughout 2025 and 2026.

Kompas reported that Indonesian police also believe that the suspects deleted evidence of the wiretapping through the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS).

LIMS is a platform that handles interception requests and distributes such information to legally authorised institutions for investigations, according to CNN Indonesia.

The phone numbers of the targeted figures were allegedly entered into the system without verification and intercepted without due process.

Kompas reported that Indonesian police seized 11 mobile phones, one iPad tablet and four USB flash drives in connection with the case.

The suspects were charged under local law and face a maximum jail sentence of six years, with Indonesian authorities applying for an additional charge that carries a prison term of up to eight years.

Sworn in on Oct. 1

Nikkei Asia reported that Sigit was sworn in as Prabowo's chief of staff on Oct. 1, 2026. He was formerly head of the Indonesian National Police.

The Indonesian State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, said on Nov. 4, "We think that what they did could be classified as... leaning towards treason".

Prasetyo noted that Prabowo was "deeply concerned" about the investigations.

According to Nikkei Asia, wiretapping is legal in Indonesia under strict conditions such as court authorisation.

Politicians weigh in

Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took to X in a cryptic statement seemingly aimed at the alleged wiretapping.

He questioned: "How did our country end up like this? How did our politics become so unrestrained?"

"It seems that any means of gaining power (political power) is considered justified. It does not matter whether they are good or bad. Moral or immoral."

Susilo added that he worried Indonesians would eventually feel afraid or unable to live peacefully in their own country, calling for Prabowo to "revive civilised politics".

Nikkei Asia also quoted the secretary-general of Prabowo's Gerindra Party, who said the wiretapping was serious and "if elements meeting the legal criteria are established, the possibility that the act amounted to an attempt to overthrow the President should also be investigated".