The Law Society of Singapore has ordered lawyer M Ravi to stop his legal practice pending a medical examination.
“The Council of the Law Society has received information relating to Mr M Ravi’s impaired fitness to practise and has issued a direction that Mr Ravi stop his legal practice pending a medical examination pursuant to Section 25C(7) of the Legal Profession Act (Cap 161, 2009 Ed),” said the Law Society in response to media queries on Tuesday (Feb 10).
Mr Ravi had reportedly been diagnosed since 2006 with bipolar disorder — which is punctuated by episodes of mania and depression — and was suspended from practising for a year in 2006.
When contacted by TODAY, Mr Ravi said he previously saw his doctor last Monday and he was not uncertified unfit for practice. He added he submitted his monthly medical report two weeks ago stating that he is well and also successfully argued a magistrates’ appeal a few days ago.
“My doctor has not certified me unfit for practice, therefore this comes as a surprise,” said Mr Ravi, in a text message. “I’m consulting my psychiatrist today and will sort this out.”
Separately, the wife of one of the three men charged with disorderly behaviour at the Thaipusam procession on Feb 3, R Angelina, sent an email to the media on Tuesday saying that she had filed an application to the High Court on Feb 5 regarding the Thaipusam incident.
The application listed the Attorney-General, the Hindu Endowments Board and Law Minister K Shanmugam among the defendents. Mr Ravi is listed as the solicitor in charge of the application.
In response, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said it has filed an application to strike out Ms Angelina’s application.
“The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed an application on behalf of the Attorney-General and the Minister for Law to strike out the Plaintiff’s application on the grounds that it discloses no reasonable cause of action, is scandalous, frivolous and vexatious, and is an abuse of process,” it said in a media release on Tuesday.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
