Indonesian authorities are investigating possible wider involvement in an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto, following the arrest of three senior police officers, including former National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
The case has raised questions about who ordered the surveillance, who received the intercepted information and whether other officials were involved.
Investigators are also examining the alleged deletion of electronic records linked to the operation, which is believed to have been carried out between 2025 and 2026.
According to National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Chief Commissioner General Asep Safrudin, the case first came to light after an officer reported an alleged instruction to delete intercepted files from the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS).
“In around October 2026, the suspects ordered the deletion of interception files from the LIMS system computer. Subsequently, the reporting officer who became aware of this made a police report on 30 October 2026,” Asep said during a press conference at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on 3 November.
Following the report, investigators questioned 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses. They also seized 11 mobile phones, one iPad and four flash drives as evidence.
Timeline of Indonesia’s Alleged Illegal Wiretapping Scandal Involving President Prabowo
Accoding to DetikNews, here are the key chronological developments in the alleged illegal wiretapping case.
2025 – Alleged Illegal Wiretapping Begins
- According to National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Chief Commissioner General Asep Safrudin, the alleged wiretapping began in 2025.
- The suspects allegedly ordered several telephone numbers to be entered into the Lawful Interceptions Management System (LIMS) server without undergoing the required verification process.
- The numbers were allegedly intercepted without being connected to any lawful investigation or criminal investigation process.
- The alleged activities were said to have violated procedures under National Police Regulation (Perkap) No. 5 of 2010.
October 2026 – Wiretapping Records Allegedly Deleted
- Around October 2026, one of the suspects allegedly ordered the deletion of interception records stored on the LIMS system’s computer.
- A police officer discovered the alleged deletion.
- The officer subsequently filed a police report on 30 October 2026.
- Bareskrim launched an investigation and questioned 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses.
- Investigators also seized 11 mobile phones, one iPad and four flash drives as evidence.
November 2026 – Three Suspects Identified
- On 3 November 2026, Bareskrim announced that three individuals had been named as suspects, identified by the initials LSP, ASN and EH. Another individual, identified as SU, was being questioned as a witness.
- The alleged targets included President Prabowo Subianto, state officials, political figures, media representatives, mass organisation leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and businesspeople.
- The three suspects faced multiple charges under Indonesia’s Criminal Code (KUHP) and Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
- The potential prison sentences include up to 10 years under Article 258 of Law No. 1 of 2023, six years under Article 332 of the Criminal Code and eight years under the ITE Law.
- The three suspects were identified as Listyo Sigit Prabowo (LSP), Ahrie Sonta (AHN) and Eko Hadi Santoso (EH). They were reportedly detained at the National Police Headquarters detention centre.
Investigation Examines Possible Involvement of Other Officers
Three senior police officers have been named as suspects: former National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, National Police Legal Division Head Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso.
According to Asep, the alleged surveillance targeted telephone numbers belonging to the president, state officials, political figures, media representatives, community leaders, non-governmental organisation (NGO) activists and businesspeople.
Political and military communications observer Selamat Ginting offered a separate account of how the alleged operation was uncovered. He claimed investigators detected signals indicating that specialised surveillance equipment was operating at several senior police officers’ residences.
“The specialised surveillance equipment was found operating at the homes of several senior police officers, including Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution, Inspector General Slamet Uliandi and Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso,” Selamat said, as quoted from Tirto.
He also claimed that Ahrie initially denied involvement before allegedly disclosing that the surveillance had targeted Prabowo, political party leaders, ministers, businesspeople, journalists and civil society organisations.
Selamat further alleged that the operation had been ordered by Listyo Sigit. However, these details have not been independently confirmed by the police, which has yet to provide a complete account of the operation.
