Palace prepares Listyo's dismissal
Speaking at the Presidential Palace, Prasetyo linked the allegations to risks to the president's safety and the country's interests. "We believe these actions fall into a category that points toward treason, endangering national security and interests, including the safety of the country's leadership," he said.
Prasetyo said a presidential decree removing Listyo from office was being prepared. "The president has expressed profound concern. There are inevitable consequences that must be addressed because one of the suspects is the presidential chief of staff," he said.
Army Lt. Gen. Aryo Windutomo has been appointed to serve as acting presidential chief of staff while the government awaits a permanent replacement.
Listyo's move into the palace complex followed his replacement as National Police chief on Oct. 1. According to ANTARA News, he was sworn in as presidential chief of staff that same day, succeeding Dudung Abdurachman, who had served since April 27, 2026. Prabowo signed Presidential Decree No. 105/P of 2026 authorizing Listyo's appointment on Sept. 30.
Three generals held in wiretapping case
Police have detained Listyo and two other senior generals: Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution, who heads the National Police Legal Division, and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior instructor at the National Police Education and Training Institute. The three suspects were being held in Jakarta at the National Police headquarters detention center.
The National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, known as Bareskrim, alleges that the unauthorized interception occurred during 2025 and 2026. Investigators say the suspects ordered taps on phone numbers belonging to the president, state officials, political and media figures, community leaders, NGO activists and businesspeople without following National Police Regulation (Perkap) No. 5 of 2010.
Investigators also allege that, around October 2026, the suspects directed the deletion of wiretap files and log traces from the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS). A police report was filed on Oct. 30, 2026.
Police said they had questioned 10 witnesses and three experts, and seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad and four flash drives. Another individual, identified only by the initials SU, remains under examination as a witness.
Charges carry prison terms of up to 10 years
The three suspects face charges under Article 258 of Law No. 1 of 2023, the Criminal Code, with a maximum prison term of 10 years. They also face charges under paragraphs (1) and/or (2) of Article 332 of that law, which carry a maximum of six years.
A further charge under Article 32, paragraph (1), of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law carries a maximum sentence of eight years.
Police operations to continue
Prasetyo said the government had worked with National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto to keep police operations and public services running without interruption during the investigation.
He also said surveillance and wiretapping must comply with Indonesian law. The government would seek to reassure the public that communications interception would follow legal requirements and that it would not tolerate unauthorized surveillance, he added.
