Indonesia Detains Police Generals, Bolsters Jakarta Security
WHO:
ABC News - Indonesian authorities assigned 6,770 police and military personnel to secure Joko Widodo’s court hearing.
ABC News - Retired police Gen. Oegroseno said investigators should examine possible lines of command behind the surveillance, including whether directives came from Widodo.
ABC News - East Jakarta Police chief Alfian Nurrizal said most forces were on standby and deployment would depend on conditions at the courthouse.
ABC News - Armed forces spokesperson Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas described the deployment of marines and other personnel as a “normal occurrence.”
ABC News - President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures were the alleged targets of a wiretapping operation.
ABC News - The military is deploying more than 20,000 troops and personnel to Jakarta.
ABC News - Indonesian police detained three senior police generals suspected of illegally wiretapping President Prabowo Subianto and dozens of other prominent figures.
ABC News - Police identified the suspects as Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Presidential Chief of Staff; Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the National Police Legal Division; and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior instructor at the National Police Education and Training Institute.
ABC News - Asep Safrudin, head of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, described the allegations at a news conference.
CNA - Presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi said the alleged actions could be considered “leading to treason.” Listyo Sigit Prabowo was fired from his post as presidential chief of staff and arrested with two other senior police officials.
CNA - President Prabowo expressed “profound concern” about the revelations, according to Hadi.
WHAT:
ABC News - Widodo attended a defamation-trial hearing over allegations that he used a fake university diploma; the case is unrelated to the wiretapping investigation.
ABC News - Hundreds of Widodo’s supporters welcomed him at the East Jakarta District Court.
ABC News - Authorities said there was no visible military presence on Jakarta’s streets and that most troops were held in reserve in barracks and other facilities.
ABC News - Police said the suspects were investigated for illegal interception of communications, unauthorized access to electronic systems, and deletion of electronic data.
ABC News - Safrudin said investigators questioned 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses and seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad, and four flash drives.
ABC News - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said investigators had found no indication of treason.
ABC News - The suspects face possible charges under Article 258 of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code, carrying up to 10 years in prison; Article 332, carrying up to six years; and Article 32 of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, carrying up to eight years.
CNA - Hadi said the alleged actions endangered state security and the safety of the country’s leader. CNA reported that treason against the president carries a maximum penalty of death by firing squad; Indonesia had not executed anyone in 10 years.
WHERE:
ABC News - The three suspects were detained at the National Police headquarters detention center in Jakarta.
ABC News World - More than 20,000 military troops and personnel were being deployed to Jakarta.
CNA - Hadi made his statements to reporters in Jakarta.
WHY:
ABC News - Nurrizal said personnel were assigned as a precaution against potential security risks and large crowds.
ABC News - Police alleged the wiretapping targeted the president, state officials, political figures, media figures, community leaders, NGO activists, and businesspeople.
ABC News - Authorities had not disclosed the operation’s aim or motive; police said the inquiry remained ongoing.
CNA - Hadi said the motive was not yet known and described information held by the head of state as highly sensitive.
HOW:
ABC News - Safrudin said telephone numbers were entered into the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS) without verification and without following procedures under a 2010 National Police regulation.
ABC News - Police alleged the suspects recently ordered deletion of intercepted-communication files from LIMS to conceal evidence and erase traces of the operation.
CNA - National police top detective Asep Safrudin said the surveillance was conducted “without any legal basis” or an investigative or inquiry process compliant with applicable laws.
(UPDATED November 5, 2026 08:58 UTC)
Indonesian police arrested three senior officers accused of wiretapping President Prabowo and other prominent figures. Investigators say the surveillance lacked legal authorization, but its motive remains unknown. Troops are deploying to Jakarta as a precaution.
--
(UPDATED November 5, 2026 07:59 UTC)
Indonesian police detained three senior officers accused of illegally wiretapping President Prabowo and prominent figures. Troops are deploying to Jakarta as investigators examine alleged unlawful surveillance. Authorities say the motive remains unknown.