Wakil Ketua Komisi III DPR RI Ahmad Sahroni di Kompleks Parlemen, Senayan, Jakarta. (Foto: Nauval Pratama/kumparan)
JAKARTA — The alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto remains in the spotlight. House of Representatives Commission III deputy chair Ahmad Sahroni has urged the special team formed by the National Police (Polri) to investigate the case thoroughly, without favoritism, and to uncover who masterminded the wiretapping.
As kumparan reported, Sahroni stressed that everyone is equal before the law, including senior officers and former state officials. He said the case cannot be taken lightly because the target was the President, who is both head of state and head of government. He asked the special team not to stop at those who carried out the wiretapping, but to trace who gave the orders and for what purpose.
Sahroni also praised National Police Chief Gen. Suyudi Ario Seto for forming the special team, led by Chief of Criminal Investigation (Kabareskrim) Comr. Gen. Asep Safrudin. He asked Polri and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to work seriously, professionally and transparently so the public can follow the case.
Three Suspects, One Key Witness
Bareskrim named three suspects at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (3/11/2026). Asep Safrudin identified them by the initials LSP, ASN and EH. Several outlets, including IDX Channel, NU Online and Mojok, identified LSP as former police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, ASN as Polri Legal Division head Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta, and EH as Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso.
Another senior officer, initialed SU, is still being questioned as a witness. Some reports had named SU as a suspect, but Bareskrim’s official statement says his status remains that of a witness. The three suspects are reportedly being held at the Bareskrim detention center and face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
How It Allegedly Worked
According to Bareskrim, the suspects were allegedly involved in wiretapping, deleting electronic data and illegal access between 2025 and 2026. They allegedly directed that a number of personal phone numbers be entered into the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS) server, a system meant to be used only for wiretapping in law enforcement cases.
The problem, police say, is that the wiretaps were allegedly carried out without investigators’ request letters and without police reports attached. Asep said the numbers were tapped with no link to any law enforcement process. Police Chief Regulation No. 5 of 2010 requires wiretapping to go through tiered request and approval procedures, including a permit from the head of a district court.
Besides the President’s phone number, the targets allegedly included state officials, political figures, journalists, leaders of mass organizations and NGOs, and businesspeople. Investigators also allege the suspects ordered log trails deleted in October 2026 to destroy evidence. Police have questioned 10 witnesses and 3 experts and seized 11 phones, an iPad and four flash drives. Bareskrim said the findings came from a scientific crime investigation approach.
Palace: President Concerned, Motive Unknown
On the day the suspects were named, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the President already knew about the case because the National Police Chief had reported it to him directly. Yusril said wiretapping the President and ministers is no simple matter but a serious problem for the state.
The next day, Wednesday (4/11/2026), State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said President Prabowo was concerned about the alleged wiretapping, deletion of electronic evidence and illegal access targeting the head of state and other figures. According to a Cabinet Secretariat release, Prasetyo said the acts could amount to treason because they could endanger state interests and the safety of the country’s leaders.
Even so, the Palace said it did not yet know the motive. Prasetyo said the government was waiting for the police investigation and was also wondering what the wiretapping was for. He asked the public not to worry, since wiretapping is regulated by law and the acts are attributed to certain individuals.
Removed as Chief of Presidential Staff
At the same press briefing, Prasetyo announced that the President had dismissed Listyo Sigit as Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP). The decree was reportedly signed that morning. To keep the office running, Lt. Gen. Aryo Windutomo was appointed acting Chief of Presidential Staff.
The government also coordinated with the National Police Chief to ensure police services to the public continue normally. Speaking at police headquarters on Thursday (5/11/2026), Gen. Suyudi Ario Seto said the case is being handled purely as law enforcement based on evidence and procedure, not internal rivalry. He asked all ranks to stay united and treat the case as a lesson for the institution.
Brief Timeline
- 2025–2026: Personal phone numbers were allegedly entered into the LIMS server and tapped with no law enforcement basis.
- October 2026: The suspects allegedly ordered log trails deleted to destroy evidence.
- Tuesday, 3 November 2026: Bareskrim named LSP, ASN and EH as suspects; Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the President had received the police chief’s report.
- Wednesday, 4 November 2026: State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi conveyed the President’s concern and announced Listyo Sigit’s removal from the KSP.
- Thursday, 5 November 2026: The police chief said the case is purely law enforcement and urged the force to stay united.
- Friday, 6 November 2026: Commission III, through Ahmad Sahroni, urged the special team to find the mastermind.
Wiretapping Rules in Indonesia
In Indonesia, wiretapping is in principle prohibited unless carried out by authorized agencies for law enforcement and in line with statutory procedures. The Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) prohibits unlawful interception of other people’s electronic information, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The same law also bans illegal access to electronic systems and unlawful deletion or alteration of electronic data.
Several institutions, including the police, prosecutors, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and BIN, do have wiretapping powers, but their use is limited to certain cases and must go through permits and oversight. When an official wiretapping system is allegedly used for purposes outside law enforcement, what is at stake is not only the security of state officials but also public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Why the Public Should Keep Watch
The case concerns citizens’ basic right to private communication. Law enforcement agencies are given wiretapping powers to solve crimes, not to monitor political rivals, journalists or civil society. That makes the call for the special team to find the mastermind and motive all the more important, and it is also a chance to tighten oversight of the state’s wiretapping systems.
All the acts the suspects are accused of remain allegations that have not been tested in court. The suspects are entitled to the presumption of innocence until a final court ruling. Desa Bersuara will continue to follow the case.
Summarized from kumparan, IDX Channel, NU Online, Mojok, the Cabinet Secretariat, Katadata and RCTI+ (in Indonesian).
