British Cybercriminal Sentenced to Psychiatric Hospital for Grand Theft Auto 6 Leak
Arion Kurtaj, an 18-year-old British citizen, has been identified as one of the key members of the notorious cybercriminal gang known as Lapsus$. This group was responsible for carrying out a series of attacks on various companies, including Rockstar, resulting in the theft and subsequent leak of material from the highly anticipated game, Grand Theft Auto 6.
According to the BBC, a judge has ordered Kurtaj’s indefinite admission to a psychiatric hospital due to the public danger he poses. The court-appointed doctors have determined that Kurtaj, who suffers from a severe autism spectrum disorder, lacks the mental capacity to stand trial. However, a mental health evaluation revealed that he is «highly motivated» to commit cybercrimes again in the future. As a result, the judge has ruled that Kurtaj must remain confined until the medical professionals deem him no longer a risk.
Willing to Continue Committing Crimes
During the trial, Kurtaj demonstrated his willingness to continue carrying out similar attacks. Shockingly, it was revealed that he had stolen the Rockstar material while out on bail for previous cybercrimes committed against Nvidia and BT/EE. Despite not having access to his computer, Kurtaj managed to infiltrate the internal networks of companies like Uber and Rockstar using unconventional devices such as an Amazon Firestick, a hotel television, and a cell phone. Following his re-arrest, the trial proceeded.
Damage Worth 5 Million Dollars
The leak of 90 videos and code related to GTA 6 occurred in September 2022. Rockstar Games confirmed the authenticity of the material, which provided glimpses of key details such as the main characters and the setting. According to the BBC, the recovery process from the data theft cost the company a staggering $5 million and thousands of hours of work.
A Message from Rockstar Games pic.twitter.com/T4Wztu8RW8— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 19, 2022
Another Lapsus$ Member Sentenced to 18 Months
In addition to Kurtaj, another member of the Lapsus$ gang, a 17-year-old individual, has also faced trial. This individual was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months of youth rehabilitation work, which includes intense supervision and a ban on using VPNs. Furthermore, this member was also charged with «terrifying» harassment of two women.
It is believed that Lapsus$ has more members, likely teenagers, who were involved in these criminal activities. However, they have not been apprehended yet, and the exact extent of the theft from the affected companies remains unknown.