Arion Kurtaj, the hacker responsible for the massive leaks of "GTA 6" in 2022, has been transferred from a high-security mental hospital to a general prison. According to BBC reporter Joe Didi, Kurtaji was transferred to a general prison after doctors determined that his condition was stable enough to be discharged from a professional medical facility.
But that doesn't mean he has been released. According to the reporter, Kurtaji is currently awaiting a new round of criminal trial, which is expected to be held in November 2026. It is worth noting that the same month is also the planned release date of "GTA 6" if Rockstar Games does not announce a new delay.
News of the transfer emerged after a photo purportedly taken inside the prison and posted via Snapchat circulated online. Joe Tiedi said he could not confirm the information until court reporting restrictions on the case were lifted. After restrictions were lifted, he confirmed that the transfer had indeed taken place.
At the time of the attack on Rockstar Games, Kurtaj was affiliated with the notorious hacker group Lapsus$. After his arrest, a court determined that he needed treatment in a high-security psychiatric hospital because of his severe autism diagnosis. At that time, the judge believed that the defendant posed a serious threat to society. It was also reported during the court hearing that Kurtaji behaved aggressively while in custody.
According to forensic identification materials, the hacker repeatedly claimed that he would return to cybercriminal activities whenever he had the opportunity and maintained a high degree of criminal motivation. It was these conclusions that became one of the grounds for indefinite placement in a specialized medical facility.
Now, after spending more than two years in a high-security psychiatric hospital, Kurtaji will face court again. It is still unknown what the final sentence will be, and how the court will take into account the time he has already served in treatment. But the case itself remains one of the most sensational stories in the gaming industry in recent years - it was the 2022 leak that first showed the world early footage of "GTA 6" and forced Rockstar Games to officially confirm the authenticity of the leaked material.