The GTA 6 hacker deemed “unfit to stand trial” in court case
The infamous GTA 6 hacker, who allegedly leaked 90 videos of the game in development and later hacked Rockstar, has been deemed “unfit to stand trial” in court, meaning they will likely avoid conviction for their cyber crimes. While the person, known as Arion Kurtaj, could face prison time for the alleged offences, including the hack and blackmailing of Nvidia, the court has stated that a jury will assess whether the 17-year-old is “liable” for the charges, rather than determining guilt or innocence.
Kurtaj, who is charged with hacking Rockstar and leaking material on GTA 6, as well as targeting other companies, appeared in London’s Southwark Crown Court alongside an unnamed 17-year-old, who is also charged with hacking multiple companies, including the police.
Both teens have appeared multiple times in the court over the course of their respective cases. The court has heard that Kurtaj and the 17-year-old hacked companies, including Rockstar, and blackmailed them with threats of releasing source code, in a bid to extort money.
However, Kurtaj has been deemed unfit to stand trial, meaning he will not be able to understand or participate in the evidence in his case, or give evidence on his own behalf. The 17-year-old has not received the same ruling, and will likely stand trial for the alleged cyber crimes.
A jury will now decide whether Kurtaj committed the crimes, including the infamous GTA 6 hack and the hack and blackmailing of Nvidia.
The Rockstar hack, which occurred in October 2022, revealed 90 videos of the game in development, confirming details like two protagonists and a modern Vice City setting. Rockstar confirmed the legitimacy of the footage but clarified it does not reflect the final product.
The hack also led to the release of GTA 5’s source code later in the year. Kurtaj faces charges of blackmail, fraud, and breaches of the Computer Misuse Act. The 17-year-old is charged with blackmail, fraud, and Computer Misuse Act violations as well.
The case has garnered significant attention, with the case’s proceedings currently trending on social media.
Featured image credit: Shutterstock.com
Original author: Kaitlin Tremblay
Original publish date: 2023-10-15
