After arrests, Indonesian president’s chief of staff dismissed amid alleged wiretapping probe

Dismissal and arrests

Listyo Sigit Prabowo was fired as Indonesia’s president’s chief of staff after the government said he may have committed treason. He is accused of arranging unauthorised wiretapping of top officials’ phones with help from two serving police officers.

Two other senior police officers were arrested, local media reported. They included Ahrie Sonta Nasution, who heads the legal division of the Indonesian National Police. Listyo had led the National Police for five years before becoming chief of staff last month. The alleged surveillance is said to have taken place from last year through this year.

Officials describe allegations

Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said on Wednesday that the acts were carried out by “certain rogue individuals.” He said the alleged conduct could be considered an act tending towards treason. The suspects are also accused of trying to hide their actions by ordering files containing intercepted communications deleted last month. Senior legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said investigators had not established a motive. National Police top detective Asep Safrudin said the operation allegedly had no legal basis and was not conducted through an investigative or inquiry process under applicable laws.

Troops deployed in Jakarta

The Indonesian military deployed more than 20,000 soldiers in Jakarta on Wednesday. Officials did not say whether the deployment was connected to the arrests. Military spokesperson Major-General Muhammad Nas described the troop movement as standard procedure to maintain national security and territorial integrity.