PRABOWO SACKS CHIEF OF STAFF OVER ALLEGED WIRETAPPING

President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a day after police confirmed his arrest over allegations that he illegally wiretapped phones belonging to several high-profile individuals, including the president and cabinet ministers. The dismissal was announced on Wednesday. Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said the government believes the alleged conduct could amount to treason and endangers the safety of the nation's leadership. Two other senior police officers were arrested alongside Listyo, including Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the legal division of the Indonesian National Police. Three police generals have been detained in total, police said.

Listyo was sworn in as presidential chief of staff on 1 October, having served five years as chief of the National Police. The unauthorised wiretapping allegedly took place between last year and this year, while he still held the national police post. Authorities allege the suspects attempted to cover up their actions by ordering the deletion of files that contained intercepted communications last month. "This was, of course, carried out by certain rogue individuals, and we are also of the view that what was done may already fall into a category that can be considered an act tending towards treason," Hadi said.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia's senior minister for legal affairs, said the motive behind the alleged wiretapping has not yet been established. Asep Safrudin, the National Police's top detective, said the operation was carried out "without any legal basis or without any investigative or inquiry process in accordance with applicable laws." The Indonesian military deployed more than 20,000 soldiers in the capital, Jakarta, on the same day. Officials have not indicated whether further arrests or charges will follow.