A warrant of arrest has been issued for Singaporean lawyer and politician Lim Tean after he failed to surrender to the State Courts on August 3 to begin a jail term. Lim, 61, was scheduled to report at noon to serve a sentence of three months and one week for practising law without a valid certificate. His lawyer, Revi Shanker, confirmed that he was unable to reach his client, noting that Lim had been in contact earlier that morning but became uncontactable shortly after. Lim’s bailor was also unable to establish contact with him.
The court had previously granted Lim a deferment of his sentence, which was originally set to begin on July 20. Following a request to settle personal affairs, the Court of Appeal allowed him to delay his surrender until August 3. The failure to appear at the appointed time triggered the issuance of the arrest warrant. A court spokesperson confirmed that a review of the warrant is scheduled for August 17, which will also serve as an opportunity for Lim’s bailor to explain why the bail sum should not be forfeited.
Lim’s legal troubles stem from a July 2024 conviction on three charges under the Legal Profession Act. He was initially sentenced to six weeks in jail and a $1,000 fine in February 2025. Following an appeal by the prosecution for a stiffer penalty, the High Court increased his sentence to three months and one week in February 2026. Separately, Lim was fined $30,000 in April 2026 regarding a disciplinary case involving the mishandling of client funds. The public and legal community are now waiting for further updates on his whereabouts as the August 17 court review approaches.