Lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean has been arrested in Johor Bahru, three days after he failed to surrender in Singapore to begin serving a jail sentence.
The 61-year-old was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police on Thursday (6 August), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed on Friday.
He has an outstanding Singapore court warrant for his arrest.
SPF said it is working closely with the Malaysian police to secure his return to Singapore.
He Was Supposed to Surrender on 3 August
Lim was supposed to report to the State Courts by 12pm on Monday (3 August) to begin serving a jail term of three months and one week.
He did not turn up.
His lawyer, Mr Revi Shanker, told CNA the following day that both he and Lim’s bailor had been unable to contact Lim, describing the situation as very unlike him.
A warrant for Lim’s arrest was issued on 3 August.
Three days later, he was arrested in Johor Bahru.
SPF said on 7 August: “As Lim Tean has an outstanding court warrant for arrest in Singapore for failing to surrender to court, the SPF is working closely with the RMP to secure his return to Singapore.”
As of SPF’s latest statement on 7 August, his return to Singapore was still being arranged.
Why Lim Tean Was Sentenced to Jail
The jail sentence concerns Lim practising law without a valid practising certificate in 2021.
Lawyers in Singapore have to obtain a practising certificate for each practice year. Professional indemnity insurance is one of the requirements for obtaining one.
Lim did not have a valid practising certificate between 1 April and 9 June 2021. His certificate was eventually issued on 10 June.
He was convicted after a trial in July 2024 of three charges under the Legal Profession Act.
His offences included acting for a client by issuing a writ of summons and carrying out legal work in court proceedings while he was not authorised to practise.
Court records state that the case involved him commencing, carrying on or defending proceedings for clients on 32 occasions, as well as preparing documents relating to court proceedings on 32 occasions.
His Original Sentence Was Much Shorter
In February 2025, a district judge sentenced Lim to six weeks’ jail and a S$1,000 fine.
Lim appealed against his conviction and sentence.
The prosecution also appealed, arguing that the punishment should be increased.
In February 2026, the High Court dismissed Lim’s appeal and allowed the prosecution’s appeal on sentence.
His punishment was increased to three months and one week’s imprisonment after Justice Kannan Ramesh found the original sentence to be manifestly inadequate.
Lim Then Tried to Take the Case Further
Lim subsequently applied for permission to refer four questions of law of public interest to the Court of Appeal.
On 6 July 2026, the Court of Appeal summarily refused the application without setting it down for a hearing.
Among other findings, the court said the questions either did not raise questions of law of public interest, did not arise from the High Court case or would not have affected its outcome.
The Court of Appeal ordered Lim to surrender at the State Courts at 12pm on 20 July to start serving his sentence.
However, on 17 July, the court approved a request to defer the sentence and moved his surrender date to 12pm on 3 August.
It was this revised deadline that Lim failed to meet.
What Happens Next
Lim is currently in Malaysia following his arrest by the Royal Malaysia Police.
SPF said on 7 August that it was working closely with the Malaysian authorities to secure his return to Singapore and thanked them for their prompt assistance.
The authorities have not announced in their latest statement when exactly Lim will be returned to Singapore.
Lim is the founder of opposition party Peoples Voice and secretary-general of the People’s Alliance for Reform.
