Indonesia arrests chief of staff and top policemen for alleged wiretapping of president

Indonesian senior legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra (center) addresses a press conference regarding those arrested over the alleged wiretapping of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI

Nov 4, 2026

JAKARTA – Three top Indonesian policemen including President Prabowo Subianto’s chief of staff have been arrested on suspicion of wiretapping the president, ministers and others, authorities said, in a new setback for a leader facing challenges on multiple fronts.

Police did not name the suspects and disclosed only their initials, but reporters have confirmed with the government that the president’s recently appointed chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who remains in the police force, was among those detained.

The three are accused of illegally tapping phones of the president, journalists, politicians, business people and more from 2025 to this year.

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