Indonesian authorities have named a fourth suspect in the alleged wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto's telephone conversations, as the scandal that has already led to the arrest of three senior police generals deepened political tensions between the president and his predecessor Joko Widodo.
The Criminal Investigation Agency, known as Bareskrim, named Slamet Uliandi, who heads the agency's Information and Communications Technology Division, as the fourth suspect. Uliandi served as a supervisory board member of the Monitoring Centre, a wiretapping unit, and allegedly approved a request in early October by another suspect to delete wiretap records to conceal evidence and erase traces of the operation, Suhermanto, director of cybercrime at Bareskrim, said. Uliandi was not detained because he is recovering from a stroke, Suhermanto said.
The scandal has rocked Indonesia since Tuesday, when police revealed that the president's own chief of staff, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and two other senior police generals were suspected of intercepting Prabowo's calls without authorisation. Listyo, who was appointed national police chief by Widodo in 2021, was last month reassigned by Prabowo to the role of chief of staff, widely seen as a demotion. He has since been detained along with National Police Legal Division head Sonta Nasution and senior instructor Eko Hadi Santoso.
Authorities allege the unauthorised wiretapping took place between 2025 and 2026, after Prabowo took office. Allegations have also surfaced that cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, civil society leaders and business executives were subjected to unauthorised surveillance.
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi told reporters on Wednesday that the actions "may fall into the category of acts tending towards treason". Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law Yusril Ihza Mahendra said there were "clear indications pointing towards treason, not suggesting an intent to assassinate, but pointing towards an attempt to incapacitate the president so that he cannot exercise executive authority."
More than 20,000 military personnel have been deployed to Jakarta this week, with TNI chief General Agus Subiyanto on Thursday saying the "state of readiness" was intended to "defend the sovereignty" of Indonesia's government against both "natural" and "man-made" threats, including "acts of treason."
The scandal has intensified scrutiny of the relationship between Prabowo and Widodo, who backed his former rival's successful 2024 presidential bid and whose son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is now vice president. Listyo is widely regarded as a Widodo loyalist, having served as police chief in Surakarta (Solo) when Widodo was the city's mayor.
Political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi told Kompas that “it is very easy to conclude that what happened involves the two big political factions of ours, Mr Jokowi and Mr Prabowo.” He said that if the situation between the two figures was not handled, this week's events could be the beginning of a bigger political escalation between them.
Retired police General Oegroseno, a former deputy national police chief, told a podcast that investigators should examine all possible lines of command, including whether any directives originated from Widodo. "The motive behind the alleged wiretapping operation must be fully uncovered," he said.
Widodo, who attended an unrelated court hearing in East Jakarta on Thursday over a defamation case involving his own educational qualifications, told reporters: "We should all respect the ongoing legal process; let's wait for the investigation outcome."
Amnesty International's executive director in Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said in a statement: "This is not merely about the alleged wiretapping of the president. Authorities must disclose who else may have been targeted and investigate the full impact of the operation."
Indonesia's national parliament returns from a break on Monday, with discussion expected to begin over the fate of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who faces growing calls to resign or face possible impeachment over questions about his high school diploma.
Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wrote on his X account: "How did our country end up like this? How did our politics become so unrestrained? It seems that any means of gaining power is considered justified. It does not matter whether they are good or bad. Moral or immoral."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The scandal threatens to destabilise Indonesia's young democracy, with military deployments and potential treason charges raising fears of authoritarian overreach.
- The rift between Prabowo and Widodo, two of the country's most powerful political figures, could paralyse governance and distract from pressing economic and environmental challenges.
- The investigation into the vice president's eligibility and potential impeachment could further deepen the political crisis.
Background
Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, has seen its politics dominated by the rivalry and subsequent alliance between Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo. After losing two presidential elections to Widodo, Prabowo was brought into government as defence minister in 2019. In 2024, Widodo backed Prabowo's successful presidential campaign, with Widodo's son Gibran as vice president. However, since taking office, Prabowo has cut funding for Widodo's flagship capital project and sidelined his allies, leading to growing tension. The wiretapping scandal, which has echoes of past surveillance controversies, is widely seen as the latest flashpoint in that rift.
Key Perspectives
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi: The alleged wiretapping "may fall into the category of acts tending towards treason."
Coordinating Minister for Law Yusril Ihza Mahendra: There are "clear indications pointing towards treason, not suggesting an intent to assassinate, but pointing towards an attempt to incapacitate the president so that he cannot exercise executive authority."
Retired police General Oegroseno: Investigators "should not hesitate to question a former president if necessary. The motive behind the alleged wiretapping operation must be fully uncovered."
Widodo: "We should all respect the ongoing legal process; let's wait for the investigation outcome."
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid: "This is not merely about the alleged wiretapping of the president. Authorities must disclose who else may have been targeted and investigate the full impact of the operation."
Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: "How did our country end up like this? How did our politics become so unrestrained?"
What to Watch
- The parliament's return on Monday: whether it opens impeachment proceedings against Vice President Gibran.
- Motive revelations: police have not disclosed who, if anyone, ordered or benefited from the wiretapping.
- Further military deployments or restrictions; the TNI chief has described the readiness as a response to "treason."
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe wiretapping allegations and military deployment escalated political tensions in Indonesia.Just In: “The wire-tapping allegations and military deployment escalated the political temperature in the capital”
- SupportedThe spokesperson said the actions may fall into a category of treason as a perceived rift between Prabowo and Jokowi escalates.Just In: “By Wednesday, the president's spokesperson was using the "T" word. [...] some analysts see a connective tissue between these events: a widening rift between former president Joko Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto.”
- SupportedPrasetyo Hadi told reporters the actions “may fall into the category of acts tending towards treason.”Just In: “"These actions may fall into the category of acts tending towards treason," presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi told reporters.”
- SupportedThe opening says the alleged wiretapping was by Prabowo’s former police chief, who was serving as his chief of staff.Just In: “Police revealed allegations that the former chief of police, who was serving as the president's chief of staff, had been tapping the calls of the most powerful man in the country.”
- Partly supportedPolice named Listyo Sigit Prabowo and two other senior generals as suspects in the alleged wiretapping.Just In: “Listyo and the other two senior police generals have been named as suspects for offences including illegal wire-tapping and data tampering.”
- SupportedPolice allege the wiretapping targeted Prabowo and others, including politicians, media workers, civil society leaders and business owners, from 2025 to this year without authorisation.Just In: “Police allege Listyo and two other senior police generals wire-tapped Prabowo — as well as other politicians, media workers, civil society leaders and business owners — from 2025 to this year without authorisation.”
- SupportedIt is alleged that files gathered from the wiretapping were deleted last month.Just In: “It's also alleged files gathered from the wire-tapping were deleted last month.”
- SupportedMore than 20,000 military personnel were being readied and deployed to Jakarta this week.Just In: “The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) has since Monday been readying and deploying more than 20,000 military personnel to Jakarta.”
- SupportedTNI chief Agus Subiyanto said the state of readiness was intended to defend the government’s sovereignty against natural and man-made threats, including acts of treason.Just In: “TNI chief General Agus Subiyanto said the "state of readiness" was intended to "defend the sovereignty" of Indonesia's government against both "natural" and "man-made" threats. "Man-made threats encompass social conflicts, terrorism, separatism, and acts of treason," he said in a statement.”
- SupportedThe military said the deployment should not be linked to other issues.Just In: “the military on Wednesday said the deployment should "not be linked to any other issues".”
- SupportedThe Constitutional Court found no compelling evidence Gibran held a high school diploma, and the Supreme Court ruled his equivalency certificate invalid.Just In: “Indonesia's Constitutional Court in October found no compelling evidence that the vice-president held a high school diploma, which is required under Indonesian law to run for office. The Supreme Court then ruled that a high school equivalency certificate he had obtained was invalid.”
- Partly supportedBurhanuddin Muhtadi said it was not impossible that what happened this week was the beginning stage of a bigger political escalation.Just In: “"If this is not handled between these two figures, it is not impossible that what happened [this week] is just the beginning stage of a bigger political escalation between two leaders in the future," Dr Burhanuddin said.”
