Lim Tean, 61, left clothes, books & unfinished tea in JB rental apartment after arrest

Singaporean lawyer and politician Lim Tean, 61, reportedly abandoned clothes, books, and an unfinished cup of tea in a rented apartment in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, after his arrest earlier this month. Upon his deportation to Singapore and subsequent arrest, the 61-year-old had been scheduled to begin serving a three-month-and-one-week prison sentence on August 3 for practicing law without a valid practising certificate.

However, he failed to check out as required, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant. Tip-offs to the Shin Min Daily News suggested Lim had crossed into Malaysia by land and hid in the rented apartment before his arrest. Police apprehended him on August 6, a day before his intended departure. The guesthouse owner, who booked the apartment under the name of Mohammad Adam, expressed surprise when law enforcement contacted her.

Security footage confirmed Lim as the actual tenant, despite his insistence that he was an ordinary middle-aged man. Upon his departure, Lim left behind several English-language books and clothing items, including a grey shirt, a blue shirt, black trousers, and two pairs of underwear. The guesthouse owner disposed of these items, believing Lim would not return.

An unfinished cup of tea was also left in the apartment, possibly due to his arrest. The apartment complex features stringent security measures, such as QR code scanning for entry and exit, room card access limited to specific floors, and extensive CCTV coverage. The guesthouse owner faced challenges replacing the room key and access card after Lim's arrest, incurring costs of RM200 (S$62) for a locksmith service.