{
  "id": 13005255,
  "title": "Lawyer Lim Tean returns to court to face fresh charges over alleged abscondment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/lawyer-lim-tean-returns-to-court-to-face-fresh-charges-over-alleged",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T02:04:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lim-tean-fresh-charges-alleged-abscondment-6443016"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singaporean opposition politician and lawyer Lim Tean returned to court on Friday (Oct 9) to face three new charges, stemming from his alleged abscondment to Malaysia. The 61-year-old appeared via videolink and was represented by lawyer Revi Shanker. The charges, under the Immigration Act and Criminal Procedure Code, include one of intending to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice. The prosecution sought Lim to remain in custody after completing his current sentence. Lim's previous conviction in July 2024 involved practising as a lawyer without a valid practising certificate, for which he was sentenced to six weeks in jail and a S$1,000 fine in February 2025. His appeal was dismissed by the High Court in February 2026, increasing his jail term to three months and one week. Lim was arrested in Johor Bahru on Aug 6 and returned to Singapore on Aug 11. The bailor, Leong Sze Hian, was ordered to forfeit S$45,000 in bail money following Lim's failure to surrender on Aug 3. Lim has additional outstanding criminal charges, including criminal breach of trust and unlawful stalking. Two men, Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus and Mohammad Adam Abd Karim, face conspiracy charges related to Lim's alleged illegal departure from Singapore. Their cases are pending. Lim's next appearance is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Oct 23.",
  "summary": "The opposition politician appeared via videolink to receive the charges.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Lawyer Lim Tean returns to court to face fresh charges after alleged abscondment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/lawyer-lim-tean-returns-to-court-to-face-fresh-charges-after-alleged",
        "published": "2026-10-09T02:04:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Singapore Opposition politician Lim Tean faces fresh charges over alleged flight to Johor, denied bail after jail term",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/singapore-opposition-politician-lim-tean-faces-fresh-charges-over",
        "published": "2026-10-09T02:45:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}