Suspects include presidential chief of staff
Police announced the suspects' initials, LSP, ASN and EH, at a press conference at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta. ANTARA FOTO documented Brimob tactical vehicles outside the lobby of the Awaloedin Diamin building during the briefing.
Tempo English and Kompas.id identified LSP as General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, now the presidential chief of staff. The other suspects are Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution, who heads the National Police's Legal Division, and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior police instructor at the Police Leadership School.
Listyo led the National Police from January 27, 2021, to October 1, 2026. According to Tempo English, his five years and eight months in office marked the longest tenure as police chief. He was appointed presidential chief of staff on October 1, 2026.
Alleged surveillance and deletion of records
Bareskrim chief Commissioner General Asep Safrudin said the alleged targets included the phone numbers of Indonesia's president, state officials, political and media figures, leaders of mass organizations, NGO activists and businesspeople.
Investigators allege that the surveillance occurred in 2025 and 2026 through the police's Lawful Interception Management System, or LIMS. They say phone numbers were added to its server without verification, although they had no connection to law enforcement.
Around October 2026, the suspects allegedly directed the deletion of files containing wiretap results from the LIMS computer system to conceal their activities. An officer's police report on October 30, 2026, brought the case to light, investigators say.
By the November 3 press conference, investigators had questioned 10 witnesses and three experts and seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad and four flash drives.
Inspector General Slamet Uliandi, identified by the initials SU, remains under questioning as a witness. He previously headed the National Police's Information and Technology Division and is currently assigned outside the police structure.
Three charges carry a possible 24-year penalty
The suspects face charges under three legal provisions, with a combined possible penalty of up to 24 years in prison.
Article 258 of the Criminal Code addresses unlawful interception of non-public electronic information and provides for up to 10 years in prison. Article 332, paragraphs (1) and/or (2), concerns unauthorized access to another person's computer or electronic system and carries a maximum of six years.
The third charge, under Article 32, paragraph (1), of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, concerns unlawful alteration, destruction or deletion of electronic information. It carries a maximum prison term of eight years.
Government plans review of surveillance rules
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration and corrections, said on November 3 that investigators had so far found no indication of a link between the wiretapping and an attempt to overthrow the government. He described the case as purely a wiretapping matter.
Yusril said President Prabowo had been informed and had ordered firm, transparent action. He also announced that the government would review national information-security protocols, along with the surveillance powers and standard operating procedures of institutions including the National Police, the National Narcotics Agency and the Corruption Eradication Commission.
