Arrest Warrant Issued for Lim Tean After He Fails to Surrender on August 3

A warrant of arrest has been issued for Lim Tean after the 61-year-old Singapore lawyer failed to surrender at State Courts on August 3 at noon to begin serving three months and one week in jail. Lim’s lawyer Revi Shanker said Lim was messaging him that morning but became uncontactable before the deadline. The Court of Appeal had approved Lim’s request to defer his original July 20 surrender date on July 17.

Why Lim was supposed to be jailed

Lim was convicted in July 2024 of three charges under the Legal Profession Act for attending court hearings and submitting documents on 32 occasions between April and June 2021 without a valid practising certificate. A district judge sentenced him to six weeks’ jail and a S$1,000 fine in February 2025. Prosecutors appealed for a stiffer sentence, and in February 2026, the High Court enhanced his sentence to three months and one week.

The missed surrender and arrest warrant

Lim was originally directed to surrender on July 20 but requested a deferment to settle personal affairs. The Court of Appeal approved this on July 17, rescheduling his surrender to August 3 at noon at State Courts 4A. An arrest warrant was issued after he did not appear. His lawyer and bailor could not reach him after that morning.

Health concerns and next steps

In January 2026, Lim told the court he suffers from status migrainosus, a condition causing severe daily migraines, and has been hospitalised twice. A warrant review is scheduled for August 17, where Lim’s bailor must show cause as to why the bail sum should not be forfeited. Lim is secretary-general of the People’s Alliance for Reform.

Additional legal troubles

In April 2026, Lim was fined S$30,000 in a disciplinary case over his handling of a S$30,000 cheque meant for his client. The Law Society of Singapore had called for him to be struck off the rolls, but Lim argued a small fine should be imposed instead.

Final Thoughts

Lim’s failure to surrender has triggered an arrest warrant and a bail forfeiture hearing on August 17. His whereabouts remain unknown, and his legal troubles extend beyond the jail sentence to disciplinary proceedings that could end his legal career.

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