Arion Kurtaj, a member of the cybercrime and extortion group Lapsus$, has been sentenced to an indeterminate period of confinement in a secure hospital by a judge in the United Kingdom.
Kurtaj, an 18-year-old individual with autism, is one of the main Lapsus$ threat actors and was implicated in the disclosure of assets related to the video game, Grand Theft Auto VI.
Consigned to an indeterminate period of confinement in a ‘secure hospital’
According to a BBC story, Arion Kurtaj, a member of the cybercrime gang Lapsus$, was sentenced to an indeterminate period in a “secure hospital” by a British judge.
Kurtaj, a resident of Oxford, played a crucial role as a member of Lapsus$ in the dissemination of video clips from the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, developed by Rockstar Games.
The judge deemed Kurtaj to still pose a “high risk” to the public due to his skills and inclination to engage in cybercriminal activities.
Therefore, until doctors confirm that he no longer poses a threat, he will continue to be held in a secure facility.
Furthermore, the court was informed that the hacker not only engaged in cybercriminal activity but also exhibited violent behavior while in detention, resulting in several claims of injury or property damage.
Due to his autism, Kurtaj was considered ineligible to be tried in court by healthcare professionals. Instead, the jury was responsible for determining whether his claimed actions were carried out with criminal intent.
According to the BBC, a mental health evaluation undertaken at the sentence hearing concluded that Kurtaj is strongly inclined to “resume engaging in cyber-crime at the earliest opportunity.”
During the six-week trial, a second 17-year-old member of Lapsus$ (whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons) has been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court in London.