{"text":[[{"start":10.2,"text":"Indonesia has deployed 20,000 soldiers to the streets of the capital and arrested three senior police officers as a scandal erupted over the alleged wiretapping of the country’s president, already under pressure as economic woes mount."}],[{"start":24.36,"text":"Two senior police officers and President Prabowo Subianto’s chief of staff — a former national chief of police — were arrested, according to Asep Safrudin, head of the police’s Criminal Investigation Agency."}],[{"start":36.88,"text":"“[They] are suspected of illegally tapping the telephone numbers of the president of the Republic of Indonesia, state officials, political figures, media, mass organisation figures, NGOs and businessmen,” Asep said in a news conference late on Tuesday."}],[{"start":52,"text":"The scandal has sent shockwaves through Indonesia and has added to concerns about fraying ties with key allies, as the president faces falling approval ratings, criticism of his signature policies and souring market sentiment."}],[{"start":65.74,"text":"Military officials said on Wednesday that more than 20,000 troops and personnel would be deployed in the capital Jakarta, without specifying if it was related to the arrests. Military spokesperson Muhammad Nas said the troop deployment was standard practice to maintain security and unity."}],[{"start":81.56,"text":"“This situation could weaken the ruling coalition as Prabowo’s growing sense of insecurity breeds mutual suspicion among coalition partners,” said Nicky Fahrizal from the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. “Political instability is bound to escalate.”"}],[{"start":98.64,"text":"Asep identified the suspects only by their initials, per Indonesian law enforcement practice, but officials have confirmed that they included Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was made Prabowo’s chief of staff last month. Listyo, who is not related to the president, was dismissed from that role on Wednesday."}],[{"start":116.32,"text":"Asep said the wiretap was conducted “non-procedurally” between 2025 and 2026, and the three suspects ordered the deletion of wiretapping files in October to cover their tracks."}],[{"start":128.72,"text":"The three suspects have been charged under the criminal code for unlawful practices threatening security and under the electronic information law for illegal wiretapping and unauthorised deletion of electronic data. The FT could not reach the suspects for comment, and they have not released any statements via their lawyers."}],[{"start":145.96,"text":"“We can consider this an act leading to treason . . . jeopardising the security of state interests, including endangering the safety of the head of state,” said state secretary Prasetyo Hadi on Wednesday, though he added that their motivation remained unclear."}],[{"start":160.92,"text":"Listyo was appointed national chief of police in 2021 by the president’s predecessor Joko Widodo, and the two have longstanding ties, with Listyo serving as police chief in the city of Solo when Widodo was mayor."}],[{"start":174.76,"text":"While Prabowo and Widodo were rivals in two presidential races, they have since formed an alliance and Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka currently serves as vice-president. Support from Widodo, who still commands widespread public support, was also crucial in Prabowo’s landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election."}],[{"start":195.28,"text":"But there have been recent signs of strain. Several Widodo allies have been removed from the Prabowo’s administration or relegated to smaller roles."}],[{"start":203.82,"text":"“The close ties between Listyo and Jokowi are undeniable, and the public perceives them as such,” said Fahrizal, using a common nickname for Widodo. He added that the wiretap was likely to have been “heavily driven by political motives”."}],[{"start":218.6,"text":"Gibran himself has also faced questions over his eligibility to hold office after the Supreme Court last week annulled the validity of his high school equivalency certificate — a legal requirement for the office."}],[{"start":230.92,"text":"Some critics and politicians, including some who are part of Prabowo’s coalition, have called on Gibran to resign or for parliament to begin the process of removing him."}],[{"start":240.08,"text":"Gibran’s legal troubles and the arrest of the “known Jokowi loyalist” in Listyo show that Prabowo is consolidating power, said Kennedy Muslim, an analyst at pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia."}],[{"start":252.38,"text":"“With each move to dismantle Jokowi’s remaining foothold in the state, the rift between the two men is becoming harder to conceal,” said Muslim."}],[{"start":259.2,"text":"Prabowo has been grappling with tumbling approval ratings amid growing concerns about fiscal discipline, state interventionism and weak investor confidence. Indonesia’s stock market is the world’s worst-performing this year, having lost about 40 per cent of its value, and has faced downgrade warnings from index provider MSCI."}],[{"start":284.96,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1793790058_8942.mp3"}