On what was supposed to be the first day of his trial, lawyer Lim Tean sought to adjourn the trial to a later date after dismissing his own lawyer.

Lim, who is also the founder of the People's Voice Party, was charged with acting as an advocate or solicitor without a valid practising certificate between April and June 2021.

Lim told the court that he intended to engage a new lawyer and asked for the trial to be adjourned to a later date, the Straits Times (ST) reported.

Lim said that he decided to discharge his lawyer, Sankar Saminathan, as they had "fundamental disagreements" in the approach to his defence.

In addition, he cited his involvement with the 2023 Presidential Elections campaign and a supposed delay in the prosecution handing over documents for the trial to be adjourned.

Dismissing his lawyer

According to CNA, Lim told the Judge that he wanted to discharge his "good friend" as it "now become apparent in the lead-up to this trial that we have fundamental differences in how to approach the handling of [his] defence".

He added that he wanted to engage new counsel to represent him.

Lim also brought up that the prosecution bundle of documents were only served last week, stating that it was a "thick bundle" and he would require time for his new counsel to go through the material, ST reported.

In addition, Lim commented that the bundle of documents came at "such a late stage" at "a most inopportune time," CNA said.

"As many people know, this came about really only this month. I have been very involved in the campaigning for one of the presidential contenders, and I am still very involved, so that has hardly left me time to prepare for the trial," he added.

Lim is a seconder for presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian.

Prosecution object Lim's application to adjourn

The prosecution objected to Lim's application to adjourn the trial to a later date.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Edwin Soh said there was "no timeline" to serve the documents as that was the type of case involved, and they could have served it on the day of the trial. He added that the documents are already familiar to Lim, ST said.

In addition, Soh said that the trial dates have been set in March 2023, CNA wrote.

Soh accused Lim of trying to delay the trial, and it was "an abuse of process to do so right on the day of the trial itself".

The prosecution sought for the adjournment application to be denied and the trial to proceed, said CNA, as Lim is an "experienced lawyer" and thus should be able conduct the trial himself.

Judge told him to find a new lawyer in one day

Judge Ong told Lim that he is to engage a new lawyer by Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, said ST.

If not, Ong said Lim was qualified to represent himself.

"I do not take the position. My practice is not in the criminal field. My practice is in the civil field," Lim replied.

The Judge responded, "Yes, but I have seen you appearing in my (criminal) court a few times, at least".

Lim said that he did not recall.

"I do. You can check," Ong said, according to CNA.

Lim is set to return to court on Aug. 30 and would likely ask for an adjournment of the trial, CNA reported.

Top photos via Mothership & Lim Tean/Facebook