Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Wednesday, November 4, after police named him a suspect in an alleged illegal operation to wiretap the president and other prominent people.
Listyo, a former national police chief, had been appointed to the presidential post only weeks earlier. He was detained with two other senior police officers. Police allege that the surveillance took place from 2025 to 2026 and targeted officials, politicians, journalists, civil society figures and businesspeople.
Investigators say the phone numbers were monitored without following required procedures or being linked to a criminal investigation. They also say records of the interceptions were deleted in October. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the president signed a decree dismissing Listyo.
Hadi said the president appointed Lieutenant General Ariyo Windutomo as acting chief of staff. Hadi said the alleged conduct could put national interests and the safety of the country’s leaders at risk. He said it might point to treason.
However, authorities have not publicly established a motive. The allegations remain under investigation. Listyo has not publicly commented on the case.
Police have not disclosed more details about the suspects’ alleged roles.