Indonesia names fourth wiretapping suspect as political intrigue deepens

What the report says

Indonesian police have added a fourth suspect to an expanding wiretapping scandal involving President Prabowo Subianto, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. Late Thursday, investigators named a senior law enforcement official identified by the initials SU, later reported locally as Slamet Uliandi, in connection with alleged efforts to intercept the president’s communications. Police said the suspect previously served in senior monitoring and information-technology roles within the country’s criminal investigation agency.

Authorities alleged that SU approved the attempted surveillance and also gave permission before interception records were deleted. Police said he had not been detained because of a health condition. Three other senior police officers were arrested earlier in the week, including former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is described in the report as a Widodo loyalist and Prabowo’s chief of staff. The case has intensified questions about relations between Prabowo and former president Joko Widodo, his predecessor and once-close political ally.

The scandal comes as Prabowo faces growing public discontent over expensive populist measures and concern about investor confidence in Indonesia’s large economy. Police said they are still investigating the motive for the alleged wiretapping and have questioned multiple officers as well as criminal and IT experts. The national police chief has also formed a special investigative team.

The report says Jakarta remained calm despite a visible security deployment, and notes that the controversy may add to wider political tension, including discussion in parliament about the eligibility of Widodo’s son, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.