Lim Tean Arrested in Johor Bahru After Failing to Surrender

Lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean has been arrested in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, days after failing to surrender in Singapore to begin serving his jail sentence.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said Lim was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) on 6 August 2026. His arrest came after he failed to report to the State Courts on 3 August to begin serving a jail term of three months and one week for practising law without a valid practising certificate.

SPF said Lim is the subject of an outstanding warrant of arrest for failing to surrender and that it is working closely with the Malaysian authorities to secure his return to Singapore. The police also expressed appreciation to the RMP for its prompt assistance.

Before his arrest, Lim's lawyer, Mr Revi Shanker, told news platform CNA that repeated attempts to contact him had been unsuccessful, describing his disappearance as "very unlike him"

Lim was convicted in 2024 of practising law without a valid practising certificate.

His original sentence of six weeks' jail was later increased on appeal by the High Court to three months and one week after the prosecution successfully argued that the initial sentence was inadequate.

Lim Tean is a Singapore lawyer and founder of the opposition party Peoples Voice. He previously served as secretary-general of the National Solidarity Party before establishing Peoples Voice in 2018 and later becoming secretary-general of the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR)

In recent years, Lim has faced several legal and disciplinary issues, including a conviction for practising law without a valid practising certificate and disciplinary proceedings over the handling of client funds.