Lawyer & People's Alliance for Reform politician Lim Tean gets longer jail term of 3 months & 1 week

Lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean had his jail term increased by the High Court on Feb. 23, 2026 to three months and a week, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Found guilty previously

The 61-year-old was originally found guilty of three charges for practising law over more than two months in 2021 without a valid certificate.

He was initially given a six-week jail term and a S$1,000 fine in February 2025.

He appealed to the High Court, while the prosecution appealed for a higher sentence.

Lim's lawyer said Lim is considering appealing to the Court of Appeal against his enhanced sentence, Straits Times reported.

He was granted a deferment of the sentence, but ordered to surrender at the State Courts on Apr. 24.

Lim had remained silent during the trial after claiming trial.

He had also declined to call any witnesses in his defence.

Lim is a co-founder of the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), an alliance that includes opposition party Peoples Voice (PV), which he founded.

He contested the 2025 General Election as the Secretary-General of PAR, losing his contest in Potong Pasir SMC.

He has other charges pending, such as for harassment and criminal breach of trust.

A person who is jailed for at least one year or fined a minimum of S$10,000 is disqualified from running for election or holding a parliamentary seat for five years.

About Lim's case

Between Apr. 1, 2021 and Jun. 9, 2021, Lim did not have a valid practising certificate, but he attended court hearings on 32 occasions on behalf of his clients and submitted documents.

Lawyers in Singapore must apply for their practising certificate on an annual basis for the following year.

Lim failed to apply for his practising certificate by Mar. 31, 2021 for the practising year that ran from Apr. 1, 2021 to Mar. 31, 2022.

He had encountered difficulties obtaining his professional indemnity insurance, which is needed for applying for his practising certificate.

When Lim applied for his practising certificate on Jun, 9, 2021, and was issued the certificate the next day.

The Law Society of Singapore has called for Lim to be struck off the rolls as a lawyer.

This was for his handling of a S$30,000 cheque meant for his client.

Top photo via YouTube