US AIDS researcher mugged on way to talk

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Forwarded from: William Knowles <wk () c4i org>

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=125&art_id=qw1060058521570A325&set_id=1

By Liz Clarke
August 05, 2003 

A world-renowned Aids researcher, attending the national HIV and Aids
conference in Durban this week, was mugged by seven knife-wielding
youths, who stole his bag containing years of intensive research data
and all his personal belongings.

Professor Jim Mullins, visiting professor of microbiology at the
University of Washington school of medicine and a plenary speaker at
the conference, was leaving the back entrance of the Edward Hotel on
Durban's beachfront and heading for the International Conference
Centre to register for the four-day event, when he was surrounded by
the youths, flashing knives in his face. They snatched his bag and ran
off into the back streets leading to West Street.

"I realise that in many ways it was probably my fault and that I
should have been more security conscious," he said. "But all I was
thinking about was the talk I was to give and really looking forward
to the occasion."

Among the items he lost in the daylight scuffle, during which he was
forced to hand over his belongings, was a Mackintosh powerbook laptop
computer, containing the transcript of his address to the Aids
conference, and valuable cutting-edge research data on discs collected
over the past few years, some of which is impossible to replace. His
passport, personal documents, money and cell phone were also in the
black, double compartment computer bag.

"Some of it I have on back up, but more recent research had still to
be copied," said a distraught Mullins.

Much of the stolen information relates to important findings on the
evolution and progress of the Aids virus genome, which has important
data pertaining to the development of vaccines for the African
continent.

"It's a sad irony, in a way, that the people I am so desperately
trying to help - youngsters like these who could be no more than 12 or
13 and are possibly Aids orphans - are the ones who have robbed me."

Mullins, who had to postpone his plenary address because of the
robbery, has offered a R10000 ($1352.00) reward for the return of his
computer and discs.

"No questions will be asked. All I pray for is the return of my work."

On Tuesday night Mullins heads for Stanford University in California,
where he is to give a series of lectures on the Aids virus - but
without his precious research material. "It's a big blow but I am
hoping for a happy ending," he said.

Anyone who can help Professor Mullins retrieve his computer and discs
can telephone 083 652 0922 or 0860 010 111



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