Warning over the penetration of criminals into state agencies VietNamNet Bridge – Officials of the Ministry of Public Security and HCM City have released warning messages of the sway of criminals in society due to negligence of the relevant agencies. HCM City’s Chairman Le Hoang Quan even stated: "Criminals are dominating some state agencies!"  The former head of a well-known company in Vietnam, Mr. Tran Le Nguyen, used to be the victim of the so-called "criminal dominating state agencies" as the words of HCM City’s Chairman. In 1999 - 2000, Nguyen’s company opened some facilities in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Immediately after the opening of new facilities, some gangsters came to harass and beat workers. The firm reported the situation to the district and then city police but nobody intervened. Nguyen had to ask for the “assistance” of Nam Cam, the gangster leader who was executed many years ago, through an acquaintance.  Gangsters disappeared but the price that Nguyen had to pay was huge. One day, Nam Cam invited him to his home to play cards. The director lost nearly $20,000. Nam Cam lent him to continue the game and the director became a big debtor of Nam Cam. Nam Cam’s gang was broken by General Nguyen Viet Thanh’s team. In 2003, Ho Chi Minh City People's Court opened the trial that lasted for more than three months against Nam Cam and his accomplices, including some police officers. In this case, the "victim" Tran Le Nguyen was accused of gambling and was sentenced four years in jail. The case of Nam Cam happened 10 years ago but now it is recalled by many companies and people with anxiety. Nam Cam gang was smashed and it seems that this kind of crime was crushed but it has reappeared in some provinces.  Many businesses in the north have been harassed by gangsters. Their message is "Do you want to bankrupt or to be protected?" The “protection fees” is up to tens of thousands of US dollars per month. Some businesses initially refused to pay and reported to the police but nobody answered them. Facing bankruptcy, they had to pay the “protection fees,” which was doubled. Until the Ministry of Public Security involved, these gangs were eliminated. Colonel Ho Si Tien, Director of the Criminal Police Agency commented: "Wherever the government neglects, crime rises! In some places there are signals of covering up." However, the statement of Colonel Ho Si Tien is seen as "gentle" than the currently alarming situation. In HCM City, there was time that local people were very worried whenever they went out because of the fear of robbery. The city police arrested many robbers but until the Ministry of Public Security sent 600 special police officers to the city; the robbery was pushed back. Through investigation of the arrested robbers, people were surprised because they operated in groups. They hired houses to live together. Certainly their activities were different from ordinary people. Even normal people knew that they were dishonest gangs. Yet the local police and local governments did not know. This is a big question! In many cases, people were threatened and harassed by gangsters. They denounced the gangsters to the police but they were then “punished” by the gangsters. So the honest did not trust the law. At the most recent meeting of the HCM City People’s Council, a deputy mentioned this situation as follows: "The honest people are afraid of the evildoers; the majority is afraid of the minority.” The fact shows that only the culprits in big cases, which were made public, were arrested and punished. There are many other cases that have not yet reached the public are likely to be neglected. Gangsters can operate inconsiderately because they have the protection of someone in state agencies? Penetration of criminals? In Dong Nai province, a police lieutenant was recently discovered to be a wanted criminal. Earlier, some police officers were detected to be drug addicts. Such stories make us shudder and recalled the Nam Cam case. Ring leader Nam Cam not only bribed and controlled officials and police officers but also sponsored his relatives and acquaintances to study in police training or law schools. Nam Cam was executed but his tricks can be used, even at more sophisticated ways. Criminals cannot operate unruly without deliberate ignorance or the cover-up of officials. More hazardously, they can control public officials. It is time to be more aggressive to prevent crime.  Duy Chien