Jimly Says Prabowo Wiretapping Case Could Constitute Treason

Former head of the Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP), Jimly Asshiddiqie, said he supported National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto in pursuing the alleged wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto to its roots.

He said illegal wiretapping was unjustifiable and could carry a prison sentence of up to the death penalty.

“All of this could meet the elements of treason, which can carry the death penalty. But we cannot immediately determine that, because these are only indications; it will be proved later in court,” Jimly said in Jakarta on Sunday (8 November), as quoted by Antara.

Citing the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law) and the Criminal Code, Jimly said illegal wiretapping carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years.

However, he said further evidence would be needed in court before the death penalty could be considered.

The former chief justice of the Constitutional Court said illegal wiretapping targeting the President was part of political and economic manoeuvring that had been under way.

Jimly said he did not want to pre-empt the judicial process. The court would reveal the motive behind the alleged wiretapping and determine whether it constituted treason.

“The motive will certainly come to light in court. Was it really an attempt to kill the President, to incapacitate him so that he could no longer govern, or, for example, to betray the interests of the state?” he said.

On 3 November 2026, the National Police named three people as suspects in the alleged illegal wiretapping and electronic data deletion case.

They are former National Police chief General LSP, National Police Legal Division head Inspector General AS, and an instructor at the National Police Education and Training Institute, Inspector General EH.

Two days later, on 5 November 2026, police named former National Police Information and Communications Technology Division head Inspector General SU as a suspect, bringing the total number of suspects to four.

On the same day, police said LSP, AS and EH had been detained at the National Police Mobile Brigade Corps headquarters detention centre in Depok, West Java. SU has not been detained because he remains ill following a stroke.