Warrant of arrest issued for Lim Tean after he fails to surrender to begin jail term

Singaporean lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean faces an arrest warrant after failing to report for the start of his jail term. The 61-year-old was scheduled to surrender on Monday, August 3, to begin serving a sentence of three months and one week for practicing law without a valid certificate.

Lim's lawyer, Revi Shanker, confirmed to CNA on Tuesday that Lim did not appear at the State Courts by the noon deadline on August 3. Shanker stated that he had been unable to contact Lim and that Lim's bailor was also unsuccessful in reaching him. Consequently, a warrant for his arrest was issued on Monday.

Shanker described Lim's failure to surrender as "very unlike him" and expressed uncertainty about Lim's whereabouts, even suggesting the possibility of him being in a hospital. Lim had previously informed the court in January about a medical condition, status migrainosus, which caused severe daily migraines and led to two hospitalizations.

Lim was convicted in July 2024 by Senior District Judge Ong Hian Sun. His initial sentence of six weeks' jail and a S$1,000 fine was increased on appeal by the prosecution, who argued the original sentence was "manifestly inadequate." This conviction relates to practicing law without a valid certificate. Lim has faced other legal issues, including being declared bankrupt in April and fined S$30,000 in the same month for misconduct in handling a former client's money.

Lim is the founder of the opposition party Peoples Voice (PV) and secretary-general of the People's Alliance for Reform. He contested in the last General Election in Potong Pasir SMC, finishing third. A warrant to arrest review hearing is now scheduled for August 17, replacing a pre-trial conference for outstanding charges against him.

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very unlike him