Indonesia’s military is deploying more than 20,000 troops and personnel to the capital, Jakarta, amid an investigation into an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures. Officials stated Wednesday that the deployment is part of efforts to bolster security in the capital.
The alleged wiretapping scandal has drawn significant attention as it reportedly involves some of Indonesia’s most senior serving police officers. Among those implicated is the current presidential chief of staff, Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo. Authorities are investigating claims that the president, Cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, civil society leaders, and business executives were subjected to unauthorized surveillance.
While authorities have not explicitly confirmed the wiretapping probe as the reason for the military deployment, the first phase began Monday with 2,100 personnel already stationed in Jakarta. Troops from outside the capital were scheduled to arrive Wednesday, bringing the total to 20,980, according to Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan, the navy operations assistant. Personnel from marine and navy units, as well as training centers and naval bases from Java and Lampung province, are involved. An additional 13,140 personnel have been placed on standby.
Sofiyan did not elaborate on the specific purpose of the deployment or address concerns about potential security or political tensions in Jakarta stemming from the investigation. Indonesian armed forces spokesperson Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas described the troop movements as standard procedure for maintaining national security and territorial integrity, emphasizing the military's preparedness to protect the nation.
Late Tuesday, police announced the detention of three senior police generals as suspects in the alleged illegal wiretapping case. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, along with Generals Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Eko Hadi Santoso, are accused of illegal interception of communications, unlawful access to electronic systems, and deletion of electronic data. Police allege these actions occurred between 2025 and 2026, when Listyo served as Indonesia's police chief, and that the suspects ordered wiretaps without proper procedures. They are also accused of ordering the deletion of intercepted communications data in late October to conceal evidence.
The suspects face charges related to unlawful interception, recording, alteration, obstruction, or monitoring of nonpublic electronic communications, which carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The accused generals have not yet publicly responded to the allegations.