Sorry, Can't Resist The Laughter

A Seberang Takir, Kuala Terengganu woman was forbidden to look at herself in the mirror for a month by a medium.

She followed the rule thinking that was supposedly to avoid the magic in the treatment formula from being dispelled - She is on the highway to become the sexiest lady in town through traditional treatment. The 33-year-old's hope for a magical transformation into a pretty maiden. But she realised the magic did not work when the big day came.
After 31 days, her appearance was still the same chubby woman with blackheads, pimples and all.
She had parted with RM2,250 (S$980), at least RM250 (S$110) for each treatment session. The victim then confronted the medium at his house to get a refund.

She lodged a police report the same day, at the end of January 2010. Police arrested a 34-year-old man to facilitate investigations.

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A retired couple lost their life savings of RM750,000 (S$326,000) when they were cheated into handing it over to a bomoh, a traditional medicine man, who claimed he could cure the husband’s illness.

The husband could be cured if they gave him RM750,000 to be placed in a coffin. The medicine man convinced them to buy the coffin and have it kept in a temple in Kuching, Sarawak, and he would place the money in it on their behalf.
The husband would be cured provided the money was not touched for 3 years.

Sungai Maong Cheif Insp Stanley Mawan points at the seized mini coffin used to store the RM750,000. Photo: The Star

The incident happened in the middle of 2009 but the couple only lodged a police report on the second week of January 2010 after suspecting that they had been cheated.
Police arrested the bomoh, 35, and his accomplice, 47, at separate locations.

Police also seized the coffin, which was empty, and a vehicle which the bomoh was believed to have purchased with the money.

Message From The Dead, Too

In the east, Indonesian Andi Susato had been smoking since he was a schoolboy and he had never experienced any problems with his habit.

But in early Febrauary at 31 years of age, while riding his motorcycle, the cigarette that he was smoking exploded in his mouth.
The explosion resulted him losing 6 teeth after. The unexpected incident led him to quit smoking.
Andi's lips were bandaged in an interview with the Jakarta Post.
He accepted a payment of 5,000,000 (S$850) and all his medical costs from PT Nojorono Tobacco, maker of Clas Mild, the brand of cigarette brand that he smoke.

A spokesman for Clas Mild said there were no plans for a recall. More than 60% of Indonesian men smoke. Indonesia is one of the most profitable tobacco markets in the world.

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And in the west, United Kingdom citizen Albert Whittamore, known as Dick, died late February after suffering for years from emphysema, a progressive lung condition he blamed on his smoking habit.

Mr Whittamore ran a small printing business in a shop below his home. He was forced to use a motorised wheelchair in his later years as his health faltered. He wanted to do his bit to warn others about smoking. He specified what he wanted in his will. Before his death, Whittamore, asked for the signs to accompany his hearse as it passed through Dover, southeast England, for his funeral.
Paul Sullivan, of Sullivan & Son funeral directors said that he had been suffering for a while. After giving it some thought, the company decided that that's what he had requested. 
His dying wish was honoured when signs bearing the words "Smoking Killed Me" were placed in the window of his hearse.

The coffin of Albert 'Dick' Whittamore arrives at St Mary's Cemetery in Dover, Kent
 

He wanted the ill-effects of his smoking to act as a warning to others and dictated in his will that the signs be placed inside his hearse as it passed through his home town of Dover in Kent.
An additional sign was placed at his graveside, according to his wishes.

British anti-smoking charity Quit paid tribute to him. A spokesman said, "Dick is sending out a strong message to smokers as he doesn't want others to suffer. He blamed his youthful smoking habit for the disease. He wanted the sign to serve as a warning to young people about the dangers of tobacco smoking.

The sign was designed to look like the health warning on a packet of cigarettes and the printed placard at his grave was left in place for a week. According to AP, the hearse carrying his body through the town of Dover 160 km southeast of London had several of the printed signs displayed in the windows.

He died at the age of 85 in Februaury.