Jakarta Court: 6,770 troops guard former president's testimony
Former President Joko Widodo testified in a defamation case while three generals remained detained in a separate wiretapping probe.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
Indonesian authorities deployed 6,770 police and military personnel to secure the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday. Former President Joko Widodo appeared before the judges to testify in a defamation trial.
The hearing stems from allegations that Widodo used a fake university diploma. This legal matter is distinct from the ongoing wiretapping scandal that has gripped the capital.
The wiretap investigation involves three detained senior generals. Among them is Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who served as national police chief under Widodo. Prabowo was recently named chief of staff to President Prabowo Subianto.
Police allege that unauthorized surveillance of President Prabowo’s phone calls occurred between 2025 and 2026. The investigation also names Insp. Gen. Ahrie Sonta Nasution, head of the National Police Legal Division, and Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, a senior instructor at the police training institute.
Allegations suggest that cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, and business executives were also intercepted. The presidential palace described the wiretaps as an act of treason that endangered state interests, though it did not link the troop deployment directly to the case.
East Jakarta Police chief Alfian Nurrizal called the large security presence a precautionary measure for potential crowds and security risks. He stated that the actual deployment would be adjusted based on conditions at the courthouse.
Despite the massive force sent to the city, most troops remained in reserve at barracks. Widodo arrived in the morning to the chants of hundreds of supporters. No visible military units patrolled the streets near the court.
