Lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean, 61, received three additional charges on 9 October 2026 over allegations that he absconded to Malaysia while on bail.
The court also approved the prosecution’s request for him to be denied bail after he finishes his current jail term.
What The New Charges Allege
According to The Straits Times’ report on the charges, Lim allegedly did not surrender at the State Courts on 3 August to begin his sentence, as required.
He is also accused of departing through Tuas Checkpoint on 4 August without presenting a valid passport to an immigration officer.
The remaining charge concerns allegedly leaving for Malaysia unlawfully to evade imprisonment, thereby committing an act that could defeat the course of justice. In this case, the allegation is that his departure would frustrate enforcement of the sentence.
No Bail After His Current Sentence
CNA reported that prosecutors cited continuing investigations when seeking to prevent Lim’s release on bail after his sentence.
Lim joined the hearing by video link. His case is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 23 October.
Why He Was Due To Surrender In August
Lim’s existing sentence concerns work he performed as a lawyer without a valid practising certificate.
Police previously said a district court imposed six weeks’ imprisonment and a S$1,000 fine on 17 February 2025. Both sides appealed: Lim challenged his conviction and sentence, while prosecutors challenged the sentence.
On 23 February 2026, the High Court increased his prison term to three months and one week.
Police said the Court of Appeal subsequently dismissed his application to refer questions of law of public interest on 6 July. He was required to surrender on 3 August, but did not do so, and an arrest warrant was issued that day.
Malaysian police arrested him on 6 August. He was transferred to Singapore police on 11 August, when the Commercial Affairs Department arrested him upon his return.
Two other men, Mohammad Adam Abd Karim and Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus, were charged on 8 August over an alleged conspiracy to arrange Lim’s unlawful departure.
Police said the alleged arrangements were intended to take Lim from Singapore to Malaysia despite the requirement for him to surrender. Those allegations are separate from the practising-certificate offences for which Lim is already serving his sentence.
