Indonesia’s armed forces have deployed more than 20,000 troops to Jakarta as authorities intensify an investigation into alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto. The case has led to the detention of three senior police generals.
The scandal has heightened tensions after the presidential palace said that wiretapping targeting the president could be regarded as an act of treason, because sensitive information from the head of state’s communications could seriously endanger national security and the country’s top leadership.
Among those implicated is General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was appointed presidential chief of staff last month. President Prabowo formally dismissed him on Wednesday, a day earlier. Listyo previously served as national police chief after being appointed in 2021 under former President Joko Widodo.
Although authorities have not officially confirmed a direct link between the deployment of tens of thousands of troops and the wiretapping investigation, the scale of the deployment has attracted considerable attention. Because the alleged interception targeted the president, investigators are considering additional charges under Article 191 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code, which provides for severe penalties up to the death sentence. By: Rithy
