Three held in Indonesia over alleged wiretapping of president
Police say the suspects intercepted phone lines of the president and other officials, and later tried to delete the records. Investigators have not yet disclosed the motive.
Key points
- Police arrested three suspects, identified only by initials LSP, ASN and EH.
- Authorities say phone numbers of the president and other figures were intercepted without legal basis.
- Suspects allegedly ordered deletion of intercepted files from a police system in October.
- Local media have named a former national police chief, but police have not confirmed the names.
- Suspects could face jail terms of up to ten years under laws covering wiretapping and electronic data tampering.
Indonesian police have detained three people over alleged illegal phone interception targeting President Prabowo Subianto and several other senior officials, according to CNA. Asep Safrudin, who leads criminal investigations at the National Police, announced the arrests at a late Tuesday press conference on November 3.
Police have so far named the suspects only by their initials: LSP, ASN and EH. Kompas and other local publications have linked the initials LSP to Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a former national police head who now serves as Chief of Presidential Staff. Local reports have also linked the other two suspects to senior police posts. Police have not confirmed those identities.
How the case came to light
Asep said the case surfaced on October 30, when police officers who learned of the suspects’ activities filed a report. A fourth person, identified as SU, is being questioned as a witness rather than as a suspect.
According to Asep, the suspects allegedly intercepted phone numbers belonging to the president, state officials, political figures, journalists, leaders of mass organisations, heads of non-governmental organisations and businesspeople. Witness accounts suggest the activity took place between 2025 and 2026, and that it was carried out without following rules set out in police interception regulations.
Asep also said that in October 2026 the suspects ordered the deletion of intercepted communications from the police’s Lawful Interception Management System. He described the deletion as an attempt to hide their activities. Officers who discovered the deletion then raised the alarm.
Evidence and possible charges
Officers also took possession of eleven handsets, a tablet and four thumb drives as evidence. The three suspects are being held at the detention centre of National Police Headquarters.
The suspects are expected to face charges over unlawful phone interception, breaking into electronic systems without permission, and tampering with or erasing digital data belonging to others. Depending on the offence, the maximum jail time is ten, six or eight years.
Background and official response
Listyo had led the national police since 2021. Joko Widodo had chosen him for the job, and he continued in the role through Prabowo’s government as well. Prabowo removed him from the post on October 1, during a Cabinet reshuffle. Listyo was then appointed Chief of Presidential Staff, replacing Dudung Abdurachman, who became Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, told reporters that police are still examining why the interception took place. He said the purpose cannot yet be disclosed because the investigation is ongoing.
The case is still at an early stage. Police have not confirmed the full names of the suspects or the reasons behind the activity. Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.
Frequently asked questions
Who has been arrested in the Indonesia wiretapping case?
Police have arrested three suspects identified only by the initials LSP, ASN and EH. Kompas and other local outlets link the initials LSP to former national police head Listyo Sigit Prabowo, but police have not confirmed this.
Whose phone numbers were allegedly intercepted?
Police say the numbers belonged to President Prabowo Subianto, state officials, political figures, media members, mass organisation leaders, NGO leaders and businesspeople. The interception allegedly happened between 2025 and 2026 without legal procedure.
What charges do the suspects face?
The suspects are expected to face charges over unlawful phone interception, breaking into electronic systems without permission, and tampering with othersu0026#039; digital data. The maximum terms are ten, six or eight years, depending on the offence.
Sources
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