Warrant of arrest issued for Lim Tean for not surrendering to court to start jail term

An arrest warrant has been issued for Lim Tean for failing to surrender to court to start his jail term.

According to the court’s Integrated Case Management System (ICMS), a warrant of arrest review will be held for Lim on Aug. 17.

He was originally supposed to attend a pre-trial conference on Aug. 4 for outstanding charges against him, but this scheduled event has been changed to a review.

The 61-year-old Singaporean lawyer and politician was slated to surrender on Jul. 20 to start serving jail time for practising law without a valid certificate.

Mothership understands that he did not show up.

In the latest development, CNA reported that Lim was supposed to surrender on Aug. 3 to serve three months and one week in jail for practising law without a valid certificate, but did not show up, according to his lawyer.

Both Lim's lawyer and bailor could not reach Lim, according to CNA.

Mothership has contacted the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and Judiciary for confirmation.

CNA reported that Lim said in court in January 2026 he has severe daily migraines known as status migrainosus and was hospitalised twice.

Background

Lim is the secretary-general of the People’s Alliance for Reform.

He was sentenced to six weeks’ jail and a S$1,000 fine in February 2025 after being convicted in July 2024 of three charges under the Legal Profession Act.

Even though he did not have a valid practising certificate, he had attended court hearings and submitted documents on 32 occasions between April and June 2021.

In February 2026, the High Court judge increased Lim’s jail sentence to three months and a week.

This was after he appealed in the High Court against his conviction and sentence.

Prosecutors filed an appeal to increase his jail term to five to eight months.

Separately, 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 wanted Lim struck off the rolls.

Lim argued before the Court of Three Judges for “a very small fine”.

The court decided on a "heavier fine", citing his cavalier attitude towards lawyers’ obligations in handling clients’ money and his more than 25 years of experience as a senior practitioner at the time.