Muna Al Fuzai

While Saudi Arabia has been actively arresting a number of people accused of corruption and stealing millions in public funds, newspapers in Kuwait published reports that became a subject of comparison and comments among Kuwaitis. "Samson", a mafia leader in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, was arrested by police, ending a chapter of fear and theft against Bangladeshi and other Asian street vendors selling vegetables and used clothes. He is not a minister, official or even a citizen. He is a Bangladeshi expatriate who had a chance to get rich and powerful without any restrictions or fear.

We have all read about and saw Samson in several movies and cartoons. He was introduced to us as a man of superhuman strength who nonetheless could not escape tragedy. Samson is the biblical Hercules and he was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible. Samson breaks vows, marries outside of the people of Israel twice, and functions more as a vigilante than a leader.

The reports said Farwaniya security officials ended Samson's reign as the mafia leader of hawkers at the "thieves market" in Jleeb. He used to allocate land to sellers and impose royalties and rent on them by force. The Souq Al-Haramiya (thieves market) in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh is full of vegetables and stolen goods, so security forces decided to clear it and prepared a security plan based on information received about the presence of a person leading a gang.

Samson used to impose "taxes" on hawkers in return for protecting them from harassment. Legal proceedings are being taken against him in preparation for deporting him from the country. I hope he gets jailed first. I am certain that the arrest of "Samson" is good work by the interior ministry, but it also raises concerns by some Kuwaitis about how many more Samsons are there in Kuwait. Such people are dangerous for the future of Kuwait and its funds and economy, and must be exposed even if they are former officials and are out of service now.

I completely understand the people's reaction and comparison. We should not be blamed for the irony of the situation. It is sad that efforts have been made to arrest a small-time villain who exploited corruption and chaos to make himself a mafia leader and make money, but at the same time, there are files that are stuck, full of allegations of theft that no one can or dares to reveal.

I think the mockery of the situation in Kuwait is justified, and it is regrettable too. Thanks to the security men for arresting Samson. Perhaps, expatriates in Jleeb are happier and relieved now - until the emergence of a new alternative, because unless security men thoroughly monitor, clean this area and eliminate corruption, a new Samson is bound to arrive.

By Muna Al-Fuzai

[email protected]