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The leader of opposition party Peoples Voice was arrested this morning ahead of a defamation trial pitting him against the prime minister next week. 

Lim Tean, an attorney defending a blogger accused of defamation by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was handcuffed by police officers at an office where he was said to be meeting with his client to discuss next week’s trial. Human rights lawyer M Ravi wrote about the arrest and posted photos online on behalf of Lim but did not specify what the arrest was about.

“3 police officers from the [Commercial Affairs Department] just barged into the office and arrested Lim Tean whilst he is preparing his case with Leong Sze Hian in his room for next Tuesday’s defamation trial to cross examine the Prime Minister,” Ravi said . “Lim Tean protested when they placed the handcuff that his arrest is politically motivated. I have been instructed by Lim Tean to act as his Defence Counsel. Lim requested that I issue this statement on behalf as his counsel.”

Blogger Leong Sze Hian, who is being sued by the prime minister for sharing an online article alleging that the latter was involved in money laundering, also wrote that his legal counsel had been arrested. 

Update: Police deny politics behind arrest of opposition figure defending critic of PM in court

“My legal counsel, Lim Tean has been arrested and handcuffed by 3 plainclothes policeman, at his office this morning,” he wrote online. 

The police could not be immediately reached for comment. Lim is being investigated for stalking and breach of trust, according to some reports.

The prime minister filed a lawsuit against Leong in 2018 after the blogger shared an article by Malaysian site The Coverage alleging that Singapore’s leader had helped former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak launder money as part of the massive 1MDB scandal.

Lim, whose party lost badly in July’s election, is also known as a vocal government critic. 

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