The Other Side of Gun Jack: Notorious Thug Revealed as BIN Agent

The figure of Gunardi Agus Joko Lupito, alias Gun Jack, was widely known as a thug or gang leader in Yogyakarta. Unexpectedly, as his life drew to a close, Gun Jack revealed his identity as an agent for the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). This was disclosed by Gun Jack’s wife, Dyah Safitri. She herself only discovered her husband’s other identity in 2009, when their child questioned his father’s profession. “My child once asked, ‘Dad, what is your job? My friends know where their fathers work, but I don’t know what you do,’” Dyah recounted at her residence in Kampung Badran, Jetis, Yogyakarta. According to Dyah, the question arose repeatedly until Gun Jack finally provided an explanation. Even so, he did not elaborate much and merely showed a card he possessed. “He told my child, ‘I work. Don’t worry. I’m not a bad person, I have a job,’” Dyah said. Afterwards, Gun Jack showed the identity card he had kept closely guarded. “Then he showed the card. My child was finally relieved,” she recalled. Dyah remembered that her husband’s health was already declining at that time. Throughout their marriage, Gun Jack had kept that identity tightly concealed. As far as Dyah knew, Gun Jack would only inform her if he had to travel out of town for an extended period. He also frequently went to conflict areas such as Poso or Ambon, leaving behind only a contact number to be reached in case of an emergency. “If he went away for a week or more, he would just give me a business card. He said if anything happened or he didn’t return, I should call that number to ask about his condition,” she said. Although she did not know the details of her husband’s work, Dyah admitted it was never an issue in their household. “What mattered to me was that he was responsible for the family and loved the children. That was enough,” she said. During his life, Gun Jack was known as a thug or gang leader in the Badran area during the 1980s. His life story was not easy; he had to help his mother sell gudeg at the train station. “He often helped his mother at the station. Maybe that’s where he met many people. You know what the station environment is like,” Dyah recalled. Their difficult economic circumstances forced Gun Jack to drop out of junior high school. From then on, he focused on helping his divorced mother earn money, eventually migrating to various big cities. “No one in the family was a thug. It was probably more due to his social environment. Kampung Badran was also known as a thug village back then. So the environment shaped him into that,” she said. “His friends liked to fight, drink, and gamble. That’s the world he entered.” Dyah admitted she did not know exactly how her husband got the nickname Gun Jack. The moniker stuck as he became widely known as a thug. According to Dyah, Gun Jack was highly respected by many in Kampung Badran because of his strong sense of solidarity. He was known for daring to challenge anyone who bothered his friends or relatives in the village. “But he wasn’t someone who looked for trouble. He was tough, but only if someone disturbed or ganged up on his friends or neighbours, he would step in. He couldn’t stay silent,” she said. “That’s how he became famous. People knew him as a brave figure.” A similar story was shared by his childhood friend, Rudi Baruno. Rudi mentioned that this high level of solidarity gave Gun Jack a wide network of friends. Gun Jack was seen as a leader within his street circles. Rudi noted that Gun Jack often divided parking management territories among people he trusted, providing many with jobs and a source of income. “If he had a problem, his friends were ready to defend him. You could say he was like a gang leader,” Rudi said. Gun Jack’s network was not limited to Yogyakarta but reached various regions. Rudi admitted he was often surprised by how many people from outside the area knew his friend well. “I myself couldn’t believe he knew so-and-so. His social circle was very wide. He even had many Madurese friends. The Madurese people here knew him well, and they often sent him satay,” he said. This smooth ability to socialise allowed Gun Jack to be easily accepted anywhere, from the lower classes to elite circles. “He was clever at making friends, including with officials,” Rudi revealed.