HANOI -- A member of the ruling Vietnamese Communist Party's Politburo has been officially reprimanded in connection with a notorious gangster scandal, according to state media Tuesday.

The party's central committee voted to rebuke Truong Tan Sang "as punishment for his errors while he was secretary of the party committee in Ho Chi Minh City," a report on state television said.

Sang, who is also head of the central committee's economic commission, "did not carry out his responsibilities to prevent the criminal activities of Truong Van Cam and his accomplices", the AFP reported.

Gangster Truong Van Cam, alias "Nam Cam," faces charges in February together with some high-powered public figures over a corruption scandal that has already been a huge embarassment for the communist regime.

According to press reports, Nam Cam received help from officials in Vietnam's commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City as he allegedly organized assassinations, drug trafficking, prostitution, gambling and other rackets.

No fewer than 154 accused are expected to appear in the "Nam Cam affair," whose chief defendant was arrested a year ago.

Among the most prominent figures facing prosecution are Pham Si Chien, former deputy chief of the main public prosecutor's office; Bui Quoc Huy, one-time director of the Ho Chi Minh City police force; and Tran Mai Hanh, who served as director general of state radio station Voice of Vietnam.

Huy and Hanh were expelled from the party in July 2002.

Nam Cam was first arrested in 1995 in the former Saigon, but released 30 months later following the intervention of top-level cadres.

But if he is found guilty in next month's trial, the 55-year-old Mafioso could face the death penalty.

Sang is the most senior party official to have been disciplined over his role in the affair.