- Lim Tean was arrested by the Singapore Police Force upon his return on August 11 after failing to surrender to begin his jail term.
- The 61-year-old was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police in Johor Bahru on August 6 for failing to surrender to the State Courts to begin his jail term.
- Lim Tean was handed over to the Singapore Police Force by the Royal Malaysia Police on August 11.
- He was originally supposed to surrender on July 20, but had asked for an adjournment to settle his personal affairs.
- Lim was convicted in July 2024 of three charges under the Legal Profession Act and sentenced to six weeks' jail and a fine of $1,000 by a district judge in February 2025.
- The High Court increased his sentence to three months and one week after a judge agreed with the prosecution that his original sentence was 'manifestly inadequate'.
- Lim Tean was declared bankrupt in April and fined $30,000 over his conduct in handling a former client's money.
- A warrant of arrest was issued against him on August 3 after he failed to surrender to begin serving his jail term.
- Two men were charged on August 8 for allegedly helping Lim Tean illegally depart Singapore for Malaysia.
- Lim Tean is the founder of Peoples Voice and secretary-general of the People's Alliance for Reform, an alliance of opposition parties.
- At the 2025 General Election, he contested Potong Pasir SMC in a three-way fight and came third behind the People's Action Party's Alex Yeo and Singapore People's Party candidate Williamson Lee.
- Police investigations into the circumstances of Lim Tean's illegal departure are ongoing.
- Peggy Pao, director of the Commercial Affairs Department, reiterated the police's resolve to pursue and bring to justice those who commit crimes in Singapore.
- The director also thanked the Royal Malaysia Police for their prompt assistance in this case.
Lim Tean, 61, was arrested by the Singapore Police Force after being handed over by Malaysian authorities on August 11. He had failed to surrender to the State Courts on August 3 to begin serving a jail term of three months and one week for practicing law without a valid certificate.13678
Lim was originally sentenced to six weeks’ jail and a $1,000 fine in February 2025, but the High Court later increased his sentence, deeming it "manifestly inadequate." He had illegally departed Singapore while on court bail, leading to a warrant for his arrest.5
The police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his illegal departure, with two men charged on August 8 for allegedly assisting him. Peggy Pao, director of the Commercial Affairs Department, emphasized the police's commitment to pursuing criminals, stating, "We will continue to work closely with our wide network of overseas law enforcement partners to locate, arrest and secure the return of criminals to face justice in Singapore."913
Lim, founder of the Peoples Voice and secretary-general of the People's Alliance for Reform, contested in the 2025 General Election but came in third place. He was declared bankrupt in April and fined $30,000 for mishandling a former client's funds.1011
The police reiterated their resolve to bring justice to those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of their location.
“Lim Tean, founder of Peoples Voice, was sentenced to three months and one week for practising law without a valid certificate, after the High Court deemed his original six-week term 'manifestly inadequate'. Two men have been charged for allegedly facilitating his illegal departure, and police investigations continue.”
AsiaOne
