Fourth suspect named as scandal deepens

Indonesian police have named a fourth senior officer as a suspect in the alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto, as the scandal that has already led to the arrest of three police generals continues to deepen.

Police said the new suspect, Slamet Uliandi, heads the information and communications technology division of the Criminal Investigation Agency, known as Bareskrim. Investigators allege he approved the wiretapping, according to the agency's cybercrime director. Uliandi has not been detained because he is recovering from a stroke.

Three generals already detained

Three senior officers were detained on Tuesday, including Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the former national police chief who had been appointed presidential chief of staff only weeks earlier. The other two are Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the police legal division, and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso, chief instructor at the police staff college.

Police allege the officers ordered the interception of the president's phone calls, along with those of journalists, politicians, government officials and business people, between early 2025 and October 2026, without following proper procedure. They are also accused of ordering the deletion of intercepted records in October.

President Prabowo dismissed Listyo as chief of staff on Wednesday. The presidential palace said the alleged conduct could be regarded as leading towards treason, although Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said investigators had found no indication of treason so far and the motives remained under investigation.

Troops deployed to Jakarta

More than 20,000 military personnel have been deployed to Jakarta this week, with a further 13,140 on standby, according to the navy. The military has denied any connection between the deployment and the wiretapping case, describing it as a readiness measure.

Police say they are still investigating the motives behind the interceptions.