Hacker Linked to GTA 6 Leak Leaves Secure Hospital, Awaits Trial in Prison

Arion Kurtaj, whom British authorities consider a member of the hacking group Lapsus$ and a key figure in the Rockstar Games breach and the massive GTA 6 leak, is no longer being held in a secure psychiatric hospital. The update comes from BBC News cyber correspondent Joe Tidy.

According to Tidy, Kurtaj has been transferred to a regular prison facility, where he will remain until a new court hearing scheduled for November.

Following a court ruling in late 2023, the hacker was placed in a specialized medical institution for an indefinite period. At the time, the court took his severe autism diagnosis into account and concluded that he posed an ongoing risk to the public. As a result, his stay in the hospital was not subject to a fixed end date and depended on future medical assessments.

That situation has now changed. According to the BBC report, Kurtaj is no longer being held under medical supervision in a secure facility and will return to court as part of a standard criminal proceeding.

Kurtaj first drew international attention following the high-profile Rockstar Games security breach in 2022. The attackers gained access to internal company materials, leading to the release of dozens of videos showcasing an early build of Grand Theft Auto 6. The incident quickly became one of the most significant leaks in gaming history and generated widespread attention across the industry.

GTA 6 is currently set to launch on November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Do you think the punishment for the hacker behind the massive GTA 6 leak should take his health condition into account, or should the severity of the crimes carry more weight?