Indonesia sacks chief of staff after wiretap arrests as troops deploy in Jakarta
Reuters reported that President Prabowo Subianto dismissed Listyo Sigit Prabowo on Nov. 4, after three police officers were detained over alleged wiretapping. More than 20,000 military personnel were deployed in Jakarta, though officials have not confirmed a link.
Reuters reported that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Nov. 4, one day after Listyo and two other senior police officers were detained over alleged unauthorized wiretapping. Deutsche Welle reported that more than 20,000 troops and military personnel had been deployed in Jakarta by Wednesday, Nov. 4, as authorities investigated alleged phone taps targeting the president and other public figures.
Reuters said the alleged surveillance had occurred since early 2025 and involved the phones of the president, journalists, politicians, government officials and business people. Police said on Nov. 3 that the officers were being investigated for unauthorized wiretaps; authorities had not disclosed the targets. Reuters said it could not immediately reach the suspects or their lawyers for comment.
Why troops were deployed in Jakarta
The Navy said the troops were sent to “safeguard and protect the stability” of Indonesia’s security and also cited upcoming training near the capital, Reuters reported. DW attributed the figure of more than 20,000 personnel deployed since Monday to Navy operations assistant Vice Admiral Yayan Sofiyan. An armed forces spokesperson described the movement as “standard procedure” for maintaining national security, DW reported.
Officials have not confirmed that the deployment was connected to the wiretapping investigation. Reuters quoted a researcher at the Australian National University, Sana Jaffrey, who said the movement could signal concern about tension between the military and police loyal to Listyo. She warned of a risk of unintended escalation; this was her assessment, not an official explanation for the deployment.
What authorities say about the wiretapping allegations
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said the alleged taps were carried out by “rogue individuals” and indicated treason, Reuters reported. Hadi said the actions endangered state interests and the safety of national leaders. Senior minister for legal affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the government had yet to determine the motive.
Amnesty International in Indonesia urged authorities to disclose who was targeted, saying the public had a right to know. It warned that unchecked surveillance could pave the way for a “secret police apparatus” used to suppress opposition, Reuters reported. The allegations concern potential monitoring of journalists and political figures, but the targets and motive remain undisclosed.
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Sources and context
- Troops deployed in Indonesia as president sacks aide accused of wiretappingReuters, republished by The Straits Times
- Indonesia deploys thousands of troops to Jakarta after alleged wire-tapping operation targeting presidentDeutsche Welle
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.