Indonesian president’s chief of staff dismissed over alleged wiretapping

Government says Listyo Sigit Prabowo may have committed ‘treason’ after he is arrested, accused of wiretapping top officials’ phones. The Indonesian president’s chief of staff has been fired for what the government says could be “treason” after he allegedly wiretapped phones with the help of two other serving police officers.

President Prabowo Subianto dismissed Listyo Sigit Prabowo on Wednesday, a day after police announced his arrest over allegations that he had illegally wiretapped phones belonging to several high-profile individuals, including the president and cabinet ministers. Two other senior police officers were also arrested, including Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the legal division of the Indonesian National Police, according to local media.

“It also tends towards acts that endanger state interests and the safety of the nation’s leadership, including the safety of the head of state,” he said.