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GTA 6 Hacker Moved to Prison for Retrial Two Years After Indefinite Sentence to Secure Hospital
Arion Kurtaj, the hacker behind the September 2022 GTA 6 leak, has been moved from a secure hospital back into prison ahead of a retrial. He was originally deemed unfit to stand trial in December 2023 due to a diagnosis of "acute autism" and was ordered into indefinite hospital detention after a jury found he had carried out the hacks, but he has now been assessed as fit to face court again.
The retrial is set for November 2026, the same month GTA 6 itself is due to launch, according to BBC correspondent Joe Tidy. Kurtaj, a member of the Lapsus$ hacking group, leaked 90 clips and the source code from GTA 6 while out on bail for a separate hack against NVIDIA, carrying out the breach using only an Amazon Firestick, a hotel TV and a mobile phone. Officials have previously reported violent behaviour and property damage by Kurtaj in custody, along with a mental health assessment describing him as highly motivated to return to cybercrime; police have so far given few further details about the case.
In short
- GTA 6 hacker Arion Kurtaj moved from secure hospital to prison
- Retrial scheduled for November 2026, same month as GTA 6's launch
- He leaked 90 clips and source code from Rockstar in 2022
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A retrial could give the court a fair opportunity to determine Kurtaj’s criminal responsibility now that he has been assessed as fit to face proceedings. A full hearing may also help establish the facts and provide a transparent basis for any eventual sentence or detention decision.
The case against
A retrial may place substantial strain on someone previously found unfit to stand trial and diagnosed with acute autism, so his current fitness and ability to participate fairly warrant careful scrutiny. Given that a jury already found he carried out the hacks and he remains under secure detention, critics may question whether another trial is necessary or proportionate.
Explained simply
Grand Theft Auto 6, commonly known as GTA 6, is one of the world's most widely anticipated video games, developed by Rockstar Games. In September 2022, hacker Arion Kurtaj leaked gameplay footage and source code from the unreleased game online.
Kurtaj was arrested following the leak but in December 2023 was found to be mentally unfit to stand trial due to an autism diagnosis. Rather than face immediate criminal proceedings, he was sent to a secure hospital under indefinite detention, although a jury determined he had carried out the hacking. He has now been reassessed as fit to stand trial and moved from hospital back to prison ahead of a retrial scheduled for November 2026.
The case generated significant public interest because of both the high profile of the target and the apparent simplicity of Kurtaj's alleged methods. He is said to have used only an Amazon Firestick, a hotel television and a mobile phone to breach Rockstar Games' systems. Kurtaj is believed to be a member of Lapsus$, a hacking group responsible for major attacks on technology companies.
Cybersecurity Entertainment Gaming GTA 6 Health Medicine Technology