Jakarta. Indonesian police on Tuesday named former National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo as a suspect in an investigation into alleged unauthorized surveillance targeting President Prabowo Subianto, senior government officials, political figures, and members of the media.

Listyo, who was replaced as police chief on Oct. 1 and subsequently appointed presidential chief of staff, was among three suspects identified in the investigation, according to statements attributed to Criminal Investigation Agency Chief Asep Safrudin.

"Based on the results of our investigation, we have named three suspects," Asep told a press conference at National Police headquarters in Jakarta.

The two other suspects were identified as National Police Legal Division Chief Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso.

Asep said the suspects allegedly ordered unauthorized surveillance operations between 2025 and 2026, targeting the president, state officials, political figures, journalists, civil society leaders and nongovernmental organizations.

"From 2025 to 2026, the suspects allegedly ordered wiretapping without following the procedures stipulated in Internal Regulation No. 5 of 2010 governing interception activities," Asep said.

Another police officer, identified only by the initials SU, was being questioned as a witness.

Phone Numbers Allegedly Entered Into Interception System
Asep said the suspects allegedly ordered telephone numbers to be entered into the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS), a platform used to manage authorized communications interception.

However, the numbers were allegedly entered without proper verification, and the interception activities were conducted without formal requests from investigators.

Asep said the surveillance was not connected to legitimate law enforcement investigations, making it a suspected violation of applicable laws and procedures.

The investigation also uncovered allegations that one of the suspects ordered the deletion of intercepted communications files stored on a computer in September 2026.

"An officer who became aware of the suspected misconduct subsequently reported it to police on Oct. 30, 2026, providing the basis for further investigation," Asep said.

Investigators subsequently questioned 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses.

Police also seized 11 mobile phones, an iPad and four USB flash drives believed to be connected to the case.

Investigators suspect that the defendants also ordered system logs to be deleted in an effort to conceal evidence of the surveillance activities.

Multiple Criminal Charges
Asep said the suspects face allegations involving unlawful interception of private electronic communications, unauthorized access to computer systems and destruction or concealment of electronic information.

The first set of provisions concerns illegally listening to, recording, redirecting or obstructing nonpublic electronic communications, an offense carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

The second concerns intentionally accessing another person's computer or electronic device without authorization, including to obtain electronic information. The offense carries a maximum prison sentence of six years.

Investigators are also applying provisions of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law prohibiting the unauthorized alteration, destruction, deletion, transfer, or concealment of electronic information or documents belonging to others or the public.

Violations of those provisions carry a maximum prison sentence of eight years.

Asep confirmed that the three suspects are being detained at National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

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