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JAKARTA — Indonesian authorities have moved to tighten controls over state surveillance equipment and are weighing a technical sweep of the presidential palace following allegations of unauthorized wiretapping targeting President Prabowo Subianto, senior officials, business figures, and journalists. Four senior police officers have been detained in connection with the operation, including former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who had briefly served as the president’s chief of staff before his removal.
A government statement issued on November 9 indicated that unauthorized surveillance began after President Prabowo took office in October 2024. The full scope of the monitoring, the total number of individuals involved, and the underlying motives remain under active investigation. Senior legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra confirmed that technical inspections of the palace to locate hidden microphones, cameras, or related devices are being considered as a precautionary step. Minister Yusril stated that authorities are drafting measures to prevent future misuse of state-owned wiretapping systems, emphasizing that surveillance tools must operate strictly within legal parameters and authorized mandates.
Arrests and Political Repercussions
The controversy escalated following the detention of four senior police officials accused of carrying out unauthorized surveillance against the head of state and other prominent figures. Formal charges have not yet been announced. Among those arrested is former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was appointed presidential chief of staff before being dismissed amid the inquiry.
Although Listyo Sigit Prabowo shares a name with President Prabowo Subianto, the two men are not related. The former police chief is widely recognized as an ally of former president Joko Widodo, a link that has added political dimensions to what began as an internal law enforcement inquiry. Investigators noted that the wiretapping extended beyond government offices to include journalists, business executives, social activists, and political figures. Official details regarding the precise number of monitored targets or the specific data obtained have not been made public, though investigators have established the physical locations of several surveillance devices.
Investigation and Security Consultations
According to Minister Yusril, the inquiry originated from a tip submitted to the national police. The newly appointed police chief investigated the matter and briefed the president, prompting an expanded operational probe. While investigators have traced the presence of wiretapping apparatus, authorities have withheld the specific public or private premises where the hardware was stationed, as well as the network structures used to run it.
In response to the operational breach, President Prabowo held consultations on Sunday with ten former national police chiefs. House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad confirmed to reporters that the discussions focused on the phone-tapping findings. The meeting addressed organizational accountability within law enforcement agencies following concerns that institutional surveillance tools assigned for national security and criminal investigations may have been diverted for unauthorized political or private purposes.
Economic and Institutional Implications
The surveillance scandal unfolds as the administration navigates economic and policy hurdles. Public scrutiny surrounding costly social welfare commitments has intensified, while financial markets have experienced fluctuations across domestic equity and currency sectors.
As the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia faces the task of preserving investor confidence amid internal friction within its state apparatus. The detentions have also intensified attention on the political dynamics between President Prabowo and his predecessor, Joko Widodo. Authorities have noted potential grounds for treason, though no formal indictments on treason or related offenses have been submitted to court. The investigation remains centered on identifying who ordered the surveillance, locating all equipment used, and establishing how the collected material was handled.
