Indonesia’s Police Wiretapping Scandal Widens as President, Officials and Activists Emerge as Targets

Indonesia’s political and security establishment has been thrown into fresh controversy after the country’s police chief disclosed that an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto also affected senior government officials, politicians, activists, lawmakers and other prominent figures.

National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto made the disclosure on Thursday, November 12, 2026, while appearing before the Indonesian parliament’s Commission III, which oversees law enforcement and security matters.

According to Seto, the surveillance operation allegedly extended beyond the president to officials within the presidential palace, government ministries, state institutions, governors, regional police chiefs, political party figures, anti-corruption officials, students and civil society activists.

He, however, cautioned that appearing on the surveillance list did not mean those targeted were suspected of committing any wrongdoing.

The revelations have widened an investigation that has already implicated several senior police officers, including former National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was appointed chief of staff to President Prabowo in October before being detained over the allegations.

Other officers implicated include National Police Legal Division head Ahrie Sonta Nasution and senior police official Eko Hadi Santoso. Another senior officer, Slamet Uliandi, has also been linked to the investigation but is reportedly not in custody because of health reasons.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the officers arranged unauthorised interception of telephone communications and accessed electronic systems without following established procedures.

Investigators have also alleged that recordings of the president’s telephone conversations were deleted following a request by one of the suspects, with another officer allegedly approving the action.

The police chief’s parliamentary appearance is part of efforts to establish who ordered the surveillance, why it was conducted and whether additional individuals were involved.

The scandal has raised concerns about political interference, abuse of state security institutions and the protection of citizens’ privacy.

Amnesty International has called for a comprehensive investigation, warning that unlawful surveillance could be used to intimidate government critics and undermine civil liberties.

The controversy has also intensified political tensions between President Prabowo and his predecessor, Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, because some of the officers implicated in the investigation have close associations with the former president.

However, Widodo has not been implicated in the wiretapping investigation and has maintained that the legal process should be allowed to take its course.

The government has also ordered approximately 20,000 troops to Jakarta as a precaution amid the political uncertainty, although most remain on standby in their barracks.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have demanded accountability and called on investigators to identify those who authorised and financed the alleged surveillance operation.

The case has taken on greater significance following indications that police investigators are considering treason charges against the four implicated officers. Indonesian authorities have said they are examining evidence to determine the appropriate legal charges.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities facing mounting pressure to establish the full extent of the surveillance operation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.