Three Indonesian Police Generals Detained in Wiretapping Probe
On November 3, Indonesian police said they had detained three senior generals in a probe into alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto and dozens of other prominent people. The suspects are Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who serves as presidential chief of staff; Ahrie Sonta Nasution, an inspector general leading the police force’s legal division; and Eko Hadi Santoso, an inspector general who teaches at the police training institute. They were held at National Police headquarters in Jakarta.
Investigators are examining alleged unlawful interception, unauthorized access to electronic systems and deletion of electronic data. Police say the activity occurred between 2025 and 2026, with phone numbers entered into the Lawful Interception Management System without verification and outside procedures set by a 2010 police regulation. The suspects allegedly later ordered intercepted files deleted from the system.
Police have questioned 10 witnesses and three experts, and seized 11 phones, an iPad and four flash drives. Authorities have not disclosed a motive. Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said investigators found no indication of treason, while describing the alleged surveillance of the president or ministers as a serious matter. The three face charges carrying maximum prison terms of 10 years, six years and eight years under separate provisions of Indonesia’s criminal and electronic information laws. Neither the president nor the suspects had publicly responded to the allegations.
Alleged Surveillance of Indonesia’s President Demands Accountability
The allegations strike at a basic public safeguard: state power should not be used to secretly monitor people outside lawful procedures. Indonesian police say three senior generals were detained over suspected wiretapping of President Prabowo and dozens of others, including officials, political figures, journalists, activists and businesspeople.
Police allege that, from 2025 to 2026, phone numbers were placed in the Lawful Interception Management System without verification and contrary to a 2010 police regulation. Investigators also say the suspects recently ordered files containing intercepted communications deleted. The alleged monitoring and removal of records make the investigation’s scrutiny essential; the facts must be established through the legal process, not brushed aside.
The detained officers are Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who holds the presidential chief of staff position; Ahrie Sonta Nasution, an inspector general; and Eko Hadi Santoso, also an inspector general. Police have questioned 10 witnesses and three experts and seized 11 phones, an iPad and four flash drives. Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said there was no indication of treason, but called the alleged surveillance a serious matter. The suspects face charges with maximum prison terms of 10, six and eight years. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Wiretapping Case Requires Proof, Not Assumptions About Guilt
The allegations are serious, but detention is not proof of guilt. Indonesia’s investigation must establish what the three generals did, whether procedures were violated and why, rather than allow suspicion to stand in for evidence. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and the inquiry is still underway.
Police say the alleged wiretapping took place between 2025 and 2026, with numbers entered into the Lawful Interception Management System without verification and outside a 2010 police regulation. They also allege that files containing intercepted communications were later ordered deleted. Investigators have questioned 10 witnesses and three experts and seized 11 phones, an iPad and four flash drives.
The suspects are Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is presidential chief of staff; Ahrie Sonta Nasution, an inspector general who heads the police legal division; and Eko Hadi Santoso, an inspector general serving as a police instructor. Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said investigators found no indication of treason, while emphasizing the gravity of alleged surveillance involving the president or ministers. The officers face charges under three legal provisions carrying maximum prison terms of 10, six and eight years. Neither the president nor the suspects had publicly responded to the allegations.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Local 10 Miami.
