Head of Bareskrim Denies Arrest Rumors of Former Police Chief and Minister Over President Prabowo Wiretapping Scandal
JAKARTA — Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (Kabareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Comr. Gen. Asep Safrudin, has strongly dismissed rumors claiming the arrest of a former National Police Chief and a cabinet minister in connection with the illegal wiretapping scandal targeting President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.
The statement was issued in response to wild rumors circulating widely on social media and fueling public speculation over the past few days.
”The information is false,” emphasized Comr. Gen. Asep Safrudin when confirmed by reporters in Jakarta on Sunday (Nov 8, 2026).
In handling this national security scandal, the Indonesian National Police has officially named four high-ranking officers (Pati) as primary suspects. The four suspects include former National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Head of the Legal Division Inspector General Ahrie Sonta, Senior Lecturer at the Police Staff and Command College Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso, and Inspector General Slamet Uliandi.
Of the four suspects, three high-ranking officers—including Listyo Sigit, Ahrie Sonta, and Eko Hadi Santoso—are currently held in special detention at the Mako Brimob Detention Center in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java. Meanwhile, Inspector General Slamet Uliandi has not yet been placed in physical custody as he is undergoing medical treatment and health recovery.
Based on internal investigations and collected electronic evidence, the illegal wiretapping and unauthorized data access targeting President Prabowo are estimated to have taken place over a one-year period from 2025 to 2026. The suspects are alleged to have ordered the breach of communication channels without adhering to lawful procedures or authorized intelligence protocols.
Foto: Humas Polri/ist/GETNEWS.
