The "Asset Search News" for this week discusses my interview by AssetForfeitureWatch.com; Transparency International’s press release about Kenyan police corruption; and the file assistant who pleaded guilty to computer intrusions in violation of U.S. privacy law.

+AssetForfeitureWatch.com provides the law enforcement community with training / support in the area of asset forfeiture.  Last Tuesday, AssetForfeitureWatch.com interviewed me for the upcoming article "Following the money trail with a professional asset hunter" which will be available at its website.

++My "September 26, 2008 Asset Search News Roundup" mentioned Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index.  That index ranked Kenya as having a low reputation for honesty, alongside Russia, Bangladesh and Syria.  On one of its webpages, Transparency International has also accused the Kenya Police of being the most corrupt institution in all of East Africa.

+++"Pretexting During An Asset Search" explained that U.S. privacy and other laws sometimes prohibit private detectives, information brokers, etc. from using false pretenses as part of an asset search.  U.S. Privacy laws can of course also apply to other kinds of  situations, like that Mr. William A. Celey was in.  According to a press release, Mr. Celey pleaded guilty to computer intrusions that violate  privacy laws.  Based on his one-count criminal information, Mr. Celey, (while a U.S. State Department file assistant), had illegally accessed data:

 "pertaining to the imaged confidential passport application files of various celebrities and their families, actors, models, musicians, athletes, record producers, family members, a politician, and other  individuals identified in the press".  (Criminal Information, at page 1). 

 (Edited July 13, 2009)

Copyright 2009 Fred L. Abrams