Man said to have consumed drugs with lawyer M Ravi arrested in Singapore

According to police, the man tried to resuscitate the lawyer before calling for help.

Former lawyer M Ravi, known for representing those on death row in Singapore, died yesterday. (MRAVILaw pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 A man who claimed he had consumed drugs with former lawyer M Ravi, hours before the legal practitioner was pronounced dead, has been arrested in Singapore.

This was confirmed by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) last night, CNA news channel reported.

It said police stated this in response to media queries on how the lawyer had died suddenly at 56 yesterday.

Ravi had been recognised for his human rights advocacy and for defending those on death row, including at least two Malaysians caught with drugs in Singapore.

In their statement, police said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was called to attend an urgent case at about 5.40am yesterday at an apartment where they found Ravi unconscious.

Paramedics then admitted him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

CNA said there was another person present at the apartment when SCDF arrived. The person, identified as “A” by the police, had called SCDF.

“A” told police he and Ravi had taken drugs a few hours earlier and Ravi exhibited “concerning symptoms” after he took the drugs.

“A” said he administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to Ravi. “A” also admitted the drugs belonged to him, police added.

CNA said, based on preliminary investigations, police did not suspect foul play in Ravi’s death but were waiting for the post-mortem results.

CNB has arrested “A” for misuse of drugs.

Ravi had won international acclaim in 2023 when he was recognised for his work on human rights issues by the International Bar Association, picking up the award for “outstanding contribution by a legal practitioner to human rights”.

Ravi, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006, was struck off the rolls in 2024, for improper conduct. - FMT