SINGAPORE, Dec 24: M Ravi, a prominent Indian-origin human rights lawyer celebrated for defending death row inmates across Singapore, was found dead on Wednesday at age 56, with authorities investigating the unnatural death.
Born Ravi Madasamy in 1969, the National University of Singapore and Cardiff University graduate was called to the Bar in 1996 and practiced for over 25 years before establishing M Ravi Law in 2019. He championed LGBTQ rights and death penalty abolition, representing high-profile cases involving Malaysians and other condemned prisoners in a nation where 33 offenses—including murder, drug trafficking, and terrorism—carry capital punishment. His dedication earned him the International Bar Association’s 2023 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Rights, recognizing his “extraordinary dedication to defending human rights and advocating for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.”
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006, Ravi faced repeated legal troubles—fined for disorderly behavior in 2004, receiving a mandatory treatment order in 2018, and sentenced to 14 weeks’ jail in 2024. He was suspended from practice for five years in 2023 for baseless accusations against the attorney-general and Law Society. Despite setbacks, he contested the 2015 General Election with Reform Party and authored Kampong Boy (2013), shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize.
Lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam honored Ravi as someone “who stood up for and fought hard in court for what he believed in,” noting his deep commitment to pro bono work and clients, adding “he will be deeply missed by all in the legal fraternity.”
