The former top cop is suspected of allegedly wire tapping the aforementioned figures since 2025
Editor – Southeast Asia Analyst
Former Indonesian national chief of police and incumbent Chief of Presidential Staff, Listyo Sigit along with two other police generals were named prime suspects in a wiretapping case that reached the president, government officials, political leaders, media, Non Government Organizations and Businessmen. Sigit and his accomplice remain detained in the police headquarters detention center in South Jakarta. Investigators seized 11 phones, one tablet and four USB flash drives as evidence for the case.
Police Commissioner General Asep Safrudin announced at a press conference that the former top cop is suspected of allegedly wire tapping the aforementioned figures since 2025. Asep added that the wiretapping was not part of a formal investigation.
The trio was caught after they attempted to enter the phones used in their operations into Lawful Interception Management Systems however their attempts were flagged by a whistleblower on 30th October as it was entered without proper verification. Their charges include unlawful interception of non-public electronic information transmission, Unauthorized access to someone else’s electronic system and Unlawful altering, damaging, deleting, or hiding of electronic data. Offenses that could result in 10, six and eight years in prison respectively.
Minister Yusril in september 2026. Source : kumham-impas.go.id
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra has assured that the legal rights such right to legal counsel and to file for a pretrial hearing will be guaranteed to the arrested.
Sigit’s case and background is worth highlighting, after being appointed as police chief by Widodo in 2021 and serving a 5 stint, he was appointed Presidential Chief of Staff by Prabowo in October 2026 in a major reshuffle involving dozens of government officials. Political commentators quipped that Sigit was moved to a largely administrative role to limit his authority and power he yielded as police chief. Additionally his close connections to Widodo branded him as a member of the “Solo Gang,” a group of police and military generals who shared ties to Widodo since his time as Surakarta (Solo) Mayor. This possibly made him for Prabowo who actively rooted out Widodo’s inner circle that remained in government.
Netizens’ reaction to this were largely mixed, although many were intrigued by the political drama unfolding, many claimed that they were mere distraction and pointed towards former President Joko Widodo as the mastermind.
Protestors hold riot police shield after altercation. Source : Anonymous contributor
Indeed the news on this matter comes at times of multilayered economic, environmental and political crisis that prompted waves of protest scattered across the country. The police are also suffering from years long a public relations crisis with recent cases due to their violent crackdown on said protest. Despite all this, comment sections on social media urged fellow citizens to remain focused on the forest fires cases and other populist government programs that are disadvantageous to the people.
Han Kyeol Kim is an Editor in Southeast Asia Analyst
