Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto dismissed chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo after investigators named him a suspect in an alleged phone-tapping case involving senior police officers.
Minister of the State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi said the president signed the dismissal decision on Nov. 4. The acting role went to Lt. Gen. Ariyo Windutomo, who heads the Presidential Secretariat.
The dismissal followed the detention of three people in the phone interception probe on Nov. 3. Indonesia’s law coordinating ministry described them as senior police officers. Police said the allegations involved tapping a phone number belonging to the president; what, if anything, was captured has not been established.
The ministry said ministers, politicians and businesspeople were also among the alleged surveillance targets. The inquiry covers whether officers entered electronic systems without permission or deleted data. Investigators are still seeking to establish the purpose of the suspected surveillance.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said in a Nov. 4 update that indications of possible treason required further examination. Investigators had not applied a treason provision, he said. On Nov. 3, Yusril said there was no indication of treason.
Listyo, a former national police chief, had held the chief of staff post since Oct. 1. Yusril has called for a review of the use and oversight of surveillance powers and equipment. The ministry gave no timetable for the review.
