Lawyer M Ravi charged with criminal trespass
SINGAPORE: Non-practising lawyer M Ravi was charged on Friday (Jun 30) with one count of criminal trespass “with intent to annoy”, for allegedly trespassing into the offices of law firm Eugene Thuraisingam LLP at People’s Park Complex.
Ravi, 48, is accused of committing trespass when he allegedly entered the firm's office at about 2.16pm on Tuesday, "with intent to annoy" the firm’s security officer Rueben Rajandran, court documents state. He was charged alongside George Lai Yew Thiam, 56, who faces the same charge.
Ravi was hired by Mr Thuraisingam on Oct 1 last year as the head of knowledge management and strategic alliance. He was sacked on Jun 7 after he became “unmanageable”, an employee of the firm said.
Channel NewsAsia understands the security officer was hired to prevent Ravi from forcing his way into the firm’s offices following his sacking. Ravi had allegedly broken the locks before to get into the firm.
Ravi was arrested on Thursday evening and held overnight. He was brought to court on Friday morning in an unmarked police car.
Ravi was barred by the High Court from applying for a practising certificate for two years in September last year, following a conviction for misconduct.
“He had nothing and nowhere to go. We gave him a helping hand,” Mr Eugene Thuraisingam told Channel NewsAsia. “We took him in because we believe in second chances.”
In judgment grounds released in October, the Court of Three Judges said Ravi’s mental condition was to blame for his “deplorable” conduct “in relation to the judiciary, his clients and the profession as a whole”.
Ravi had made “baseless, racially charged allegations” against the president of the Law Society of Singapore and two other lawyers, the court said.
Ravi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006.
In court on Friday, Ravi said he intended to contest the trespass charge. He told the court he was a "lawful tenant" of the firm's premises at People's Park Centre. "I pay half the rent," Ravi claimed.
A police prosecutor urged the court to send Ravi to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for psychiatric assessment. But Ravi argued that since he had an "acute awareness of (his) condition", is on medication and is able to understand the proceedings and charge against him, there was no need to remand him at IMH.
Ravi added he sees both a psychiatrist and psychologist, and acknowledged that he had been "a little animated" lately due to the "excitement" of his High Court hearing. Ravi, who called himself a "constitutional expert of Singapore" had launched a challenge against recent changes to the Elected Presidency scheme. His challenge was dismissed on Jun 15.
When questioned by District Judge Adam Nakhoda about his demeanour during investigations, Ravi said he had been in a "joyous" mood and singing songs but had refused to answer any questions, choosing to exercise his rights and "privilege against self-incrimination".
Deciding against remanding Ravi at IMH, the district judge granted him bail at S$5,000. Ravi will next appear in court for a pre-trial conference on Jul 7, together with Lai, who was similarly granted bail at S$5,000.
As part of their bail conditions, the men are not to visit the firm's offices or to discuss the case publicly on any platform, the judge said.
For committing trespass, Ravi and Lai could face up to three months’ jail and a fine of up to S$1,500.
Source: CNA/cy
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M Ravi charged with voluntarily causing hurt, causing public nuisance
SINGAPORE: Non-practising lawyer M Ravi was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for two weeks on Saturday (Aug 12), after being charged over three incidents.
Ravi, 48, was charged on Saturday with two counts of causing public nuisance at Sri Mariamman Temple on Jul 31 and Aug 11 this year, one count of voluntarily causing hurt to lawyer Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss on Aug 8 and one count of causing hurt with a rash act to lawyer Nakoorsha Abdul Kadir on the same day.
In the Aug 8 incident at around 11am, Ravi allegedly pushed Ms Chong-Aruldoss to the ground outside her office at Eugene Thuraisingam LLP at The Adelphi on Coleman Street, causing her to suffer a pain in her right shoulder.
In a Facebook post on the day of the incident, Ms Chong-Aruldoss wrote that she was approaching her office when Ravi came towards her with "three huge guys" and pushed her to the floor.
"I was approaching my office when he came towards me with the three guys," she wrote. "Then he spoke to me.
"I did not want to hear him, so I smiled and attempted to walk away, then he pushed me to the floor."
Ravi also allegedly threw a bag at Mr Nakoorsha, a colleague of Ms Chong-Aruldoss, that same day.
At Sri Mariamman Temple, Ravi was charged with two counts of causing public nuisance for using abusive language to people at the temple on both occasions.
He was remanded at IMH for two weeks on Saturday and his case will next be heard on Aug 25.
The charges come after Ravi was charged with criminal trespass "with intent to annoy" in June this year for allegedly trespassing into the People’s Park Complex offices of Eugene Thuraisingam LLP.
He was formerly head of knowledge management and strategic alliance at the firm but was sacked in June this year.
Source: CNA/nc
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