Singapore blogger out S$45,000 after lawyer Lim Tean flees to Malaysia

Mr Leong Sze Hian, a socio-political blogger and lawyer Lim Tean's bailor, faced the forfeiture of the full S$45,000 bail amount (US$35,300) on Thursday, September 17, 2023, after Lim allegedly absconded to Malaysia. Mr Leong, 72, had previously argued against the forfeiture, stating that he had tried his best to fulfill his duties as a bailor and had contacted Lim the day prior to the lawyer's scheduled surrender.

However, on the day Lim was due to surrender, Lim's lawyer informed Mr Leong that Lim had transferred two cases to him, leading Mr Leong to have no reason to believe Lim would abscond. Despite Mr Leong's personal health issues, including a slipped disc and high blood pressure, as well as his wife's recent cancer operations, District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt agreed with the prosecutor that the entire bail sum should be forfeited, as Mr Leong had failed to meet his obligations as surety.