The case against Lim Cheng Hoe, who was chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), will be heard again during a second pre-trial conference set for Nov 22.

Lim, 60, was charged earlier this month with falsifying expense claims of almost $89,000 purportedly for wine and pineapple tarts meant for as gifts for foreign diplomats or delegates.

The adjournment on Friday is for the defence to make further representations, said Lim's lawyer Nicklaus Tan from Harry Elias Partnership. Mr Tan added that Lim is still taking instructions and has yet to claim trial.

Lim allegedly cheated the ministry and a separate government unit by falsifying receipts, and by using genuine receipts but with inflated claims of the number of items used for official purposes to cover up his ruse. In all, he claimed for 10,075 boxes of pineapple tarts and 248 bottles of wine. But only 2,226 boxes of the tarts and 89 bottles of wine were actually used.