JAKARTA, The Kabar News—Indonesia’s investigation into the alleged illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto has widened to examine possible indications of treason. But the investigators have not charged former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo with that offense.

Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said in Banda Aceh on Wednesday, Nov. 4, that investigators were examining whether the surveillance sought to prevent the president from exercising governmental authority.

“Although the case remains under investigation, the public needs to know that there are indications pointing toward treason,” Yusril said. “We are not talking about an intention to kill the president, but there are indications of an intention to incapacitate him.”

Yusril said investigators must determine the surveillance operation’s actual purpose and who intended to use the intercepted information. He stressed that the treason assessment remained preliminary and depended on evidence of motive.

“The interception specifically targeted the president. Therefore, investigators are taking steps to uncover the actual objective of the wiretapping,” he added.

Police named Listyo and two other senior officers—Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso—as suspects on Tuesday. Authorities accuse them of conducting unauthorized interception, unlawfully accessing electronic systems and deleting intercepted data.

The alleged surveillance took place between 2025 and October 2026, when Listyo was serving as national police chief. Police said telephone numbers belonging to Prabowo and other public figures entered the Lawful Interception Management System without the required verification.

Investigators currently apply Articles 258 and 332 of the Criminal Code. They also apply Article 32 of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. The alleged offenses carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Police have not announced a charge under the Criminal Code’s treason provisions.

Article 191 of Law No. 1/2023 applies when someone commits treason intending to kill the president or vice president. It also covers an attempt to deprive either leader of their liberty or render them unable to govern. A conviction can carry the death penalty. Alternatively, the court may impose life imprisonment or a prison term of up to 20 years.

However, the provision does not automatically apply simply because authorities allege that someone wiretapped the president. Instead, prosecutors would need evidence showing that the conduct formed part of an attempt with one of the specific intentions described in Article 191.

Yusril had said one day earlier that investigators had found no indication of treason and were applying only interception-related provisions. His subsequent statement indicates that investigators are now examining a possible motive but have not reached a final legal conclusion.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi used similarly cautious language. He said the alleged conduct “could be considered as leading toward an act of treason” because sensitive presidential communications could endanger national interests. In addition, the government was still waiting for investigators to establish the suspects’ motive, according to the State Secretariat.

Prabowo has dismissed Listyo as presidential chief of staff and appointed Presidential Secretariat chief Ariyo Windutomo as acting replacement, the State Secretariat confirmed.

The investigation must now establish who ordered the surveillance, why the president was targeted and how the intercepted information was intended to be used. Until prosecutors file additional charges or a court delivers a verdict, Listyo and the other suspects retain the presumption of innocence.