Arion Kurtaj, the hacker associated with the prominent Grand Theft Auto VI leak in September 2022, has been transferred from a secure hospital to a correctional facility to face a retrial. Kurtaj, a member of the hacking collective Lapsus$, was previously deemed unfit to stand trial in December 2023 due to a diagnosis of acute autism.
A jury had determined that Kurtaj committed the hacks, leading to his sentencing to indefinite imprisonment within a secure hospital. This status was to continue until he was medically cleared to stand trial. According to BBC correspondent Joe Tidy, Kurtaj is now awaiting a retrial in a standard prison setting, with proceedings slated for November 2026, the same month Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release.
Details surrounding the retrial proceedings and how Kurtaj will be tried, given his mental state at the time of the offense, remain undisclosed. Authorities have provided limited information regarding the case, with police reportedly being highly reserved on the matter.
Kurtaj's 2022 cyberattack involved the public release of approximately 90 video clips from Grand Theft Auto VI, alongside its source code, on a fan forum. Notably, at the time of this hack, Kurtaj was on bail for previous cybercrimes against NVIDIA and was under police protection at a Travelodge. His infiltration of Rockstar Games' systems reportedly utilized only an Amazon Firestick, the hotel television, and a mobile phone.
Officials noted Kurtaj exhibited violent behavior while in police custody, documented through numerous reports of injuries and property damage. The BBC also cited a mental health assessment indicating Kurtaj's continued intent to engage in cybercrime, stating he is "highly motivated."
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.