By Sohaib Shams
Indonesia's military is deploying more than 20,000 troops and personnel to Jakarta as authorities investigate an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures, officials said Wednesday.
Massive Deployment Underway
The first phase began Monday with 2,100 personnel from units already stationed in the capital. Troops from marine and navy units, training centers, and naval bases in Java and Lampung province were scheduled to arrive Wednesday, bringing the total to 20,980, according to Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan, the navy operations assistant. An additional 13,140 personnel have been placed on standby.
Wiretapping Investigation and Arrests
Late Tuesday, police announced the detention of three senior police generals as suspects in the wiretapping probe. They are presidential chief of staff Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Ahrie Sonta Nasution, and Eko Hadi Santoso. Police allege the unauthorized surveillance occurred between 2025 and 2026, when Listyo served as national police chief, and that the suspects ordered wiretaps without proper procedure. They are also accused of ordering the deletion of intercepted communication files in late October to conceal evidence.
Potential Charges and Official Responses
The suspects could face up to 10 years in prison on charges of unlawful interception, recording, diversion, alteration, obstruction, or monitoring of nonpublic electronic communications. They have not publicly responded to the allegations. Military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas described the troop movement as standard procedure for maintaining national security and territorial integrity, declining to link it directly to the investigation.
