Troops Surround Jakarta Amid Wiretap Probe

Jakarta is under a heavy military presence.

Officials announced on Wednesday that more than 20,000 troops and personnel are deploying to the capital. The first phase began Monday with 2,100 personnel already stationed in the city. Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan, the navy operations assistant, stated that the total number involved reaches 20,980. These forces include marine and navy units from Java and Lampung province. An additional 13,140 personnel remain on standby for immediate deployment.

Three senior police generals are detained as suspects in the investigation. Police named Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Ahrie Sonta Nasution, and Eko Hadi Santoso in a televised news conference late Tuesday. They were detained Sunday. The charges include illegal interception of communications, unlawful access to electronic systems, and the deletion of electronic data. Police allege the wiretapping occurred between 2025 and 2026. Listyo served as national police chief during that period. The suspects are also accused of ordering the deletion of files in late October to conceal evidence.

The presidential palace raised the stakes of the scandal. Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi said the alleged surveillance of President Prabowo Subianto could be regarded as conduct leading toward treason. He explained that sensitive information from a head of state's communications could endanger national leadership. Hadi stated the government is awaiting the police investigation outcome before determining the suspects' motives. Listyo was appointed presidential chief of staff last month but was dismissed on Wednesday. He previously held the national police chief role from January 2021.

Military leadership described the troop movement as routine. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas, the armed forces spokesperson, said deployments are a normal occurrence to protect national security and territorial integrity. Sofiyan did not confirm a direct link between the deployment and the wiretapping probe. He declined to elaborate on whether security or political tensions in Jakarta drove the decision. The suspects could face up to 10 years in prison for their actions.

Experts question the motive behind targeting the president. Bambang Rukminto, a police analyst at the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies, noted that wiretapping a sitting president raises different questions than surveilling business executives. He argued that intimidating the president is not a plausible explanation. Rukminto urged investigators to identify who benefited from the operation. Adrianus Meliala, a criminologist at the University of Indonesia, suggested the wiretapping may have served interests outside the police force. He stated that if proven, the case could reflect political maneuvering within the police force.

The suspects have not responded publicly to the allegations. The government continues to monitor the situation in the capital. The deployment of troops from naval bases and training centers marks a large scale of military activity in Jakarta. The investigation into the unauthorized surveillance remains active as authorities review electronic data and witness accounts.