Jakarta. The alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto involving former National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who has been named a suspect in the case, may constitute an act of treason, a senior presidential aide said on Wednesday.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the alleged surveillance could have endangered the president's safety and threatened national 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," Prasetyo told a news conference at the Presidential Palace.

He said the government was preparing a presidential decree to dismiss Listyo from his position as presidential chief of staff.

Listyo was replaced as National Police chief on Oct. 1 but was subsequently appointed presidential chief of staff, a position based within the presidential palace complex.

"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," Prasetyo said.

The government has appointed Army Lieutenant General Aryo Windutomo as acting presidential chief of staff pending a permanent replacement.

Prasetyo said the government had also coordinated with National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto to ensure that public services and police operations continued without disruption despite the investigation.

He stressed that surveillance and wiretapping activities in Indonesia are governed by law and must be conducted strictly within the applicable legal framework.

The government, he added, was committed to assuring the public that any interception of communications would be carried out in accordance with the law and that unauthorized surveillance would not be tolerated.

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