Singaporean activist and former lawyer M Ravi, who had represented several Malaysians on death row in the republic, has reportedly died in the early hours today, with police launching a probe for “unnatural death”.
The Straits Times quoted local lawyers who responded to the news of the 56-year-old’s death.
Lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam, who described Ravi as a friend, said, “He had his struggles but was always true to the cause he fought with all his heart.
“The cases he argued have helped shape constitutional law in Singapore. He has contributed to and will be missed by the legal profession.”
Another lawyer, Shashi Nathan, cited Ravi’s contributions to the law.
“Ravi was often divisive and went against the grain. But deep down, I always sensed he had a good heart and wanted the best for his clients.
“He was fearless in his advocacy and would often push the envelope,” he said.
According to The Straits Times, Ravi told reporters in 2005 that his father, who died in 2003, was an alcoholic in and out of jail most of his life.
His mother was a construction labourer who died in 2000 at 59.
Representing Malaysians
Ravi had represented Malaysians on Singaporean death row for drug trafficking, including K Datchinamurthy, 39.
Datchinamurthy was executed on Sept 25 for smuggling 44.96g of diamorphine into the republic.
Ravi also helped overturn a 2018 decision that saved another Malaysian client, Gobi Avedian, from the death penalty.
Gobi was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint in December 2014 for importing 40.22g of heroin.
He was sentenced in 2017 to 15 years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane, but this was later overturned on appeal, exposing him to the death penalty.
In 2020, Ravi successfully sought a review, resulting in the reinstatement of Gobi’s original sentence.
Towards the end of his legal career, Ravi reportedly faced sanctions, including fines and two suspensions from practice.
Despite this, he also received international recognition in 2023 from the International Bar Association, winning its Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights. - Mkini
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