Lawyer Lim Tean handed 3 new charges over alleged abscondment

Lawyer Lim Tean was handed three new charges on Friday (Oct 9) since his alleged abscondment to Malaysia, bringing the total number of charges he faces to seven.

The 61-year-old — dressed in a white shirt and wearing spectacles — appeared via videolink to receive the charges, reported CNA.

He was represented by lawyer Revi Shanker.

The charges relate to his failure to surrender at the State Courts on Aug 3 to begin serving his jail sentence, leaving Singapore without presenting valid travel documents, and allegedly leaving for Malaysia to avoid serving his sentence, according to a Singapore Police Force (SPF) news release on Friday.

Lim allegedly left Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint on Aug 4 without presenting a valid passport or other evidence of his identity and Singapore citizenship to immigration officers or an automated clearance system.

He was arrested in Malaysia by the Royal Malaysia Police on Aug 6 and handed over to the SPF on Aug 11 following collaboration between the two police forces.

Lim was previously convicted in July 2024 of three charges of acting as an advocate or solicitor without authorisation.

He was initially sentenced to six weeks' jail and a $1,000 fine by a district judge in February 2025.

The High Court increased Lim's sentence to three months and one week in February 2026 after allowing the prosecution's appeal.

The Court of Appeal had ordered Lim to surrender at the State Courts on Aug 3 after dismissing his application to refer questions of law of public interest relating to his convictions.

The police said Lim did not have his passport when he left Singapore and had not obtained the court's permission to leave.

Lim did not enter a plea

Lim did not, on Friday, indicate how he intended to plead, reported CNA. His case will return to court for a pre-trial conference on Oct 23.

If convicted, Lim faces up to three years’ jail for failing to surrender to custody, up to six months for leaving Singapore without valid travel documents, and up to seven years for an offence related to defeating the course of justice.

Two other men, aged 38 and 45, have also been charged over their alleged involvement in making arrangements for Lim to leave Singapore illegally.

helmy.saat@asiaone.com

律师林添（Lim Tean）自涉嫌逃往马来西亚以来，于周五（10月9日）被追加三项新指控，使其面临的指控总数达到七项。

据中央社报道，这位61岁的男子身穿白衬衫，戴着眼镜，通过视频连线接受了指控。

他的代理律师是雷维·尚克尔。

根据新加坡警察部队（SPF）周五发布的新闻稿，这些指控与他未于8月3日到国家法院报到服刑、未出示有效旅行证件离开新加坡以及涉嫌前往马来西亚逃避服刑有关。

据称，林某于 8 月 4 日经由大士关卡离开新加坡，但未向移民官员或自动通关系统出示有效护照或其他身份和新加坡公民身份证明。

8月6日，他被马来西亚皇家警察逮捕，8月11日，在两支警察部队的合作下，他被移交给新加坡警察部队。

林某曾于 2024 年 7 月被判犯有三项未经授权担任辩护人或律师的罪名。

2025 年 2 月，一名地区法官最初判处他六周监禁和 1000 美元罚款。

2026 年 2 月，高等法院准许检方上诉，将林某的刑期增加至三个月零一周。

上诉法院驳回了林某提出的将与其定罪有关的公共利益法律问题提交上诉法院的申请，并命令林某于 8 月 3 日到州法院投案。

警方表示，林某离开新加坡时没有携带护照，也没有获得法院的离境许可。

林某未作答辩。

据亚洲新闻台报道，林某周五并未表明其认罪意向。他的案件将于10月23日再次开庭进行审前会议。

如果罪名成立，林某将面临最高三年监禁（因未按时到案）、最高六个月监禁（因无有效旅行证件离开新加坡）以及最高七年监禁（因妨碍司法公正）。

另有两名男子，年龄分别为 38 岁和 45 岁，也因涉嫌参与安排林某非法离开新加坡而被起诉。

helmy.saat@asiaone.com