Eighteen-year-old Arion Kurtaj, the mastermind hacker behind the GTA 6 leaks, has hit a dead end with a life sentence in a hospital prison. Not for grand theft auto, but for grand theft data.
Arion Kurtaj will spend life in hospital prison for hacking ‘GTA 6’
This member of the ransomware group Lapsus$ saw his digital joyride grind to a halt as the UK court decreed his indefinite hospital custody until he’s no longer a public threat.
Last year, Kurtaj revved up the cyber world, breaking into Rockstar Games and leaking a trove of GTA 6 gameplay videos.
His threat to leak the game’s source code unless contacted on Telegram ended not with a bang, but with handcuffs, as he was arrested before further havoc ensued.
This cyber escapade confirmed the much-anticipated return to Vice City and unveiled the game’s new protagonists.
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However, the court didn’t share the same enthusiasm for his hacking adventures as GTA players might.
According to the BBC, the judge handed down a sentence that effectively parked Kurtaj in hospital prison.
His continuous high-risk behaviour and eagerness to resume his cybercrimes, potentially targeting Rockstar again, were key factors in this decision.
The psychiatrist’s insights in court underlined Kurtaj’s unwavering commitment to his criminal escapades.
Kurtaj’s hacking history extends beyond Rockstar; he also took a digital detour through Nvidia’s systems. His antics earned him a spot under police watch in a Travelodge, where he was caught with devices that allowed him to defy his bail conditions.
This discovery likely fuelled the court’s decision to keep him under stringent surveillance in a hospital setting.
Despite this cyber speed bump, Rockstar Games remains on track with GTA 6‘s development. They’ve asserted that the hack didn’t slow them down, and they even revealed the first trailer for the game, eyeing a release in 2025.
So, while Kurtaj may be navigating his days in hospital confinement, the rest of the world eagerly anticipates their next virtual adventure in GTA 6.