Leong Sze Hian, 72, forfeits S$45,000 as bailor after Lim Tean allegedly absconded to M'sia

Leong Sze Hian, 72, a Singaporean who ran in the 2020 general election and blogs about politics and finance, forfeited S$45,000 on Sep. 17, 2026 as he was the bailor for lawyer Lim Tean, 61.

This was after Lim had allegedly absconded to Malaysia instead of turn himself in to start his jail term.

Bailor said he fulfiled obligation

Leong argued against the forfeiture, CNA reported.

He said he had contacted Lim the day before he was due to surrender at the State Courts on Aug. 3.

According to Leong, Lim had assured him he would turn himself in after saying something about jobs in Singapore.

Lim's lawyer also told Leong that Lim had transferred two cases to him, which gave Leong reason to believe Lim would not run away.

Leong argued that he and his wife were in poor health, according to CNA.

However, the judge ruled that Leong had failed to fulfil his obligations as surety.

S$15,000 of S$45,000 was in non-monetary security, which refers to the pledging of items, such as jewellery and watches, as bail.

Two men who allegedly helped Lim leave Singapore illegally were charged in August 2026.

Who is Lim Tean?

Lim was sentenced to jail for three months and one week for practising law without a valid certificate.

He was found to have been practising as a lawyer without a valid certificate for about two months in 2021.

He had attended court hearings on 32 occasions during that time.

A district court in February 2025 sentenced him to six weeks' jail and a S$1,000 fine.

The High Court then increased his sentence to three months and one week's jail.

The judge said the initial sentence was "manifestly inadequate".

After he allegedly ran away while on bail, he was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police on Aug. 6.

He was handed over to the Singapore Police Force on Aug. 11.

He is now in jail and has not been charged for his alleged abscondment.

Lim was convicted in July 2024.

Lim was declared bankrupt in April 2026.

He was fined S$30,000 that month for how he handled a former client's money.

Lim is the founder of Peoples Voice and secretary-general of the People's Alliance for Reform.

He contested Potong Pasir SMC during the 2025 general election in a three-way fight.

He finished with the least number of votes.

Relationship between Leong and Lim

Previously, in 2020, Lim had represented Leong in a defamation suit brought by then-prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Leong lost and had to pay Lee S$133,000 in damages.

Leong was issued a Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) correction direction in 2024 for his Facebook post about housing grants.