Veteran human rights lawyer M Ravi dies at 56 after decades of advocacy

Human rights lawyer M Ravi has died at the age of 56, according to close friends who confirmed his passing in the early hours of Wednesday, 24 December. Friends said they were informed of his death on Wednesday morning. The cause of death has not been disclosed. The passing was later confirmed by The Straits Times, which reported that Ravi, whose full name was Ravi Madasamy, was found dead in the early hours of 24 December. The newspaper said police are investigating a case of unnatural death. According to the report, investigations are ongoing and no further details have been released by the authorities. Lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam, who had previously represented Ravi in court and described him as a friend, said he was deeply saddened by the news. “He has had his struggles but was always true to the cause he fought with all his heart. The cases he argued has helped shape constitutional law in Singapore,” Mr Thuraisingam said. “He has contributed to and will be missed by the legal profession,” he added. Ravi, whose full name was Ravi Madasamy, was born in 1969 and practised law for more than 25 years. He became one of the most prominent legal figures associated with human rights advocacy and constitutional challenges. He was particularly known for representing inmates on death row, often acting on a pro bono basis. His work placed him at the centre of public debate on capital punishment, prosecutorial discretion, and access to justice. One of Ravi’s most notable cases involved Gobi Avedian, a Malaysian national sentenced to death for drug offences. In October 2020, the Court of Appeal acquitted Gobi, making him one of the few drug convicts to be freed from death row. The acquittal was widely seen as significant in the context of Singapore’s capital punishment regime. Following the decision, complaints were filed against Ravi over comments he made about the prosecution. These complaints later formed part of the disciplinary scrutiny surrounding his conduct. Beyond death penalty cases, Ravi was active in public interest litigation. In 2013, he filed an application seeking a declaration that the Prime Minister does not have “unfettered discretion” in deciding whether and when to call a by-election, in a case arising from the Hougang by-election. Ravi was a graduate of National University of Singapore and Cardiff University, and was called to the Bar in 1996. He later founded his own practice, M Ravi Law, in 2019. He was also an outspoken advocate for minority rights. Ravi supported the abolition of the death penalty and was a consistent ally of the LGBTQ community, framing these causes as matters of constitutional equality and human dignity. Friends and associates said Ravi experienced mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder. They attributed this to prolonged stress and pressure linked to his legal work and public confrontations. Ravi had spoken publicly about mental health issues and resilience. His career, however, was marked by repeated disciplinary action. In March 2023, he received a five-year suspension from legal practice—the maximum term—after a tribunal found he had made “grave and baseless accusations of improper conduct” against the Attorney-General and officers from Attorney-General's Chambers. Subsequently, Ravi was struck off the roll of advocates and solicitors following a High Court order. The application for disbarment was brought by the Law Society of Singapore. The court proceedings cited statements Ravi made about then-President Halimah Yacob, alleged disrespectful behaviour towards a judge during a trial in November 2021, and dishonest representations to the court regarding a client’s wishes. The decision to disbar Ravi drew criticism from international NGOs such as Front Line Defenders, which expressed concern over what it described as harassment of a prominent human rights lawyer. The organisation urged authorities to cease actions it said undermined human rights defenders. Despite his suspension and disbarment, friends said Ravi had been hopeful of reinstatement. According to close contacts, he continued contributing to the legal community through speeches, seminars, and consultations, and was looking forward to resuming formal practice. Ravi also briefly entered politics. He contested the 2015 General Election as part of a slate fielded by the Reform Party in Ang Mo Kio GRC, though the team was unsuccessful. Outside law, Ravi was an author. His autobiography, Kampong Boy, was published in 2013 and shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize the following year.