Lawyer M Ravi serves letters of complaint on Law Society
Human rights lawyer M Ravi served letters of complaint against two lawyers from the Law Society over moves that raised questions on Ravi’s medical fitness.
One letter of complaint was directed at the Society's President, Wong Meng Meng, and the other was served on member Wong Siew Hong.
Speaking at a press conference called at his corporate law office on Battery Road on Friday, Ravi claimed that the two lawyers had behaved in a manner which does "not befit the conduct" of professionals.
He was referring to an incident two weeks ago when Wong Siew Hong appeared in court with a letter from Ravi's then-doctor, Calvin Fones, stating that Ravi was medically unfit to practice and represent Vellama Marie Muthu. Vellama is Ravi’s client in a high-profile case seeking to clarify the discretion of the prime minister in calling for a by-election.
Wong Siew Hong had at that time claimed to be a representative of the Society. According to Ravi, Wong Meng Meng first backed that claim and then later said that Wong Siew Hong had acted on his own initiative.
Ravi added that his lawyer Louis Joseph has also been instructed to serve letter of complaints to every member sitting on the Society's council and would be requesting that they be expelled.
Dressed casually in a green shirt, maroon pants and grey jacket, Ravi told reporters that he had called the press conference also to announce he would be leaving Singapore as he had plans expand his practice overseas.
"I will be leaving Singapore soon but will retain my Singapore citizenship," said Ravi, "I will be sitting for the New York bar exam."
He also said that he was in talks with lawyers in India, London, and Hong Kong where he intends to set up new practices.
Ravi also defended his controversial behaviour last Sunday at the Speaker's Corner, where he had launched into a bizarre tirade against politicians, performed Indian dances and at one point, hugged a tree at Hong Lim Park.
"Some people told me, ‘Your tree hugging was so nice’," he said, "I'm a hugging person."
Ravi said that the "performance" was also just a chance for him to "dance and relax".
"Don't I have the entitlement? If Kumar can do that why can't I?" he said in reference to a popular Indian drag queen and comedian here.
When asked to clarify if he was indeed suffering from bipolar disorder, which his ex-doctor, Dr Calvin Fones, had stated in a letter to the Law Society, Ravi strongly denied it, saying that he was not bipolar but instead was experiencing a "spiritual awakening".
He also claimed that he had "voluntarily" admitted himself to Mount Elizabeth hospital to seek a second opinion on his condition and to "get a letter to certify that I am well".
However, he added that he was skeptical about seeking medical advice because Mount Elizabeth is owned by Parkway Health, which in turn also runs Gleneagles Hospital where Dr Fones practices.
Ravi indicated that his lawyers are going to file a writ this coming Monday at the Supreme Court in a follow up to a Letter of Demand they sent the Society and Wong Siew Hong last week alleging defamation.
