Indonesia Wiretapping Case Escalates: Minister Says It Now Points to Treason Aimed at Incapacitating the President
On November 9, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, told a press conference in Jakarta that the investigation into the wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto has confirmed the case is "not just electronic interception, but points toward a criminal act of treason," potentially under Articles 191 and 193 of the Criminal Code, with the possible aim of rendering the president unable to carry out his duties. He said no special task force would be formed, expressing confidence in the police Criminal Investigation Agency.
The statement marks a shift from November 3, when Yusril said there was as yet no indication of treason. Police have named four senior officers as suspects, including presidential chief of staff and former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, accused of using the police lawful-interception system between 2025 and October 2026 to illegally tap the communications of the president, officials, party leaders, businesspeople, journalists and activists, and of deleting records. Prabowo dismissed Sigit on November 4, and intelligence chief Muhammad Herindra has also called the wiretapping treason.
Reuters reported on November 9 that Indonesia will tighten controls on state surveillance equipment and is considering sweeping the presidential palace for listening devices. The case has also drawn in the military: a November 2 telegram ordered 20,980 navy personnel to deploy to Jakarta, a move the military said was unrelated to the investigation.
Related: 印度尼西亚总统普拉博沃撤换幕僚长：窃听案扩大，第四名高级警官列为嫌疑人
(Source: Reuters)
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：印度尼西亚国家站资料图，本站档案图复用。图片来源：GSM国家站图库（Wikimedia Commons开放授权）。 / Photo: Indonesia country file photo (GSM archive reuse). Image: GSM country library (Wikimedia Commons, open license).
