PAYBACK has come in the form of a jail term for a serial rental-scam artist, Eric Heng Jit Siang, who conned 127 people, mainly foreigners and permanent residents.

Heng would pose as the owner of a property seeking to rent it out, milking the tenant for a deposit on the rent, and then pulling a disappearing act.

TOLD that a second person had died from eating what seemed to be tainted Indian rojak from his stall, Mr Sheik Allaudin Mohideen, 70, could only utter: 'I don't know what to say.'

It was a sombre Mr Allaudin who spoke to The Straits Times on Wednesday afternoon. He had been wandering aimlessly round the temporary centre, which is next to his own home in Eunos, casually chatting with other stall holders.

BANGKOK - MORE than 100,000 anti-government protesters rallied in Bangkok on Wednesday in the biggest demonstration yet against Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, police said.

The deputy commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police said that more supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra were expected to turn up later.

SINGAPOREANS will be spoilt for choice at the Singapore Arts Festival this year. There are 400 free outreach performances all over the island during the month-long festival, which kicks off on May 15.

These performances complement the 25 ticketed productions in the festival's core programme.