“The motive behind the alleged wiretapping operation must be fully uncovered,” retired police General Oegroseno said, as Indonesian authorities named a fourth suspect in a high-level surveillance scandal involving President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
The Criminal Investigation Agency, known as Bareskrim, detained three senior generals last month, including General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who serves as Subianto’s chief of staff. The unauthorized wiretapping operation allegedly took place between 2025 and 2026, targeting the president’s telephone conversations while Listyo was still national police chief under former president Joko Widodo, smh.com.au reported.
Bareskrim Names Fourth Suspect as Wiretap Probe Expands
Investigators expanded the inquiry by naming Slamet Uliandi as the fourth suspect in the case. Uliandi heads Bareskrim’s Information and Communications Technology Division and served as a supervisory board member for the Monitoring Centre, a dedicated wiretapping unit.
According to Suhermanto, director of cybercrime at Bareskrim, Uliandi allegedly approved a request in early October from another suspect to delete wiretap records to conceal evidence and erase traces of the operation. Police did not detain Uliandi because he is currently recovering from a stroke.
Investigators have also detained Sonta Nasution, head of the National Police Legal Division, and Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior instructor at the National Police Education and Training Institute. Allegations indicate the surveillance net also snared cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, civil society leaders, and business executives.
Calls to Question Former President Widodo
The widening investigation has drawn scrutiny toward former president Joko Widodo, whose political relationship with Subianto has shown signs of strain since the current president took office. After two electoral defeats to Widodo, Subianto chose Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate. He is now vice president.
Speaking on the Forum Keadilan TV podcast, Oegroseno urged investigators to examine all possible lines of command behind the wiretapping, including whether any directives originated from Widodo.
“Investigators should not hesitate to question a former president if necessary,” Oegroseno said.
Meanwhile, Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, warned that the unauthorized surveillance could constitute a serious human rights violation aimed at intimidating critics and weakening civil liberties.
“This is not merely about the alleged wiretapping of the president,” Hamid said in a statement. “Authorities must disclose who else may have been targeted and investigate the full impact of the operation.”
Security Forces Deploy for Defamation Trial
Widodo has denied the diploma allegations. Addressing reporters outside the courthouse regarding the separate wiretapping investigation involving his former police chief and close ally, Widodo offered a brief response.
“We should all respect the ongoing legal process; let’s wait for the investigation outcome,” Widodo said.
