AGC refutes M Ravi’s claim he is approved for legal practice
Lawyer M Ravi. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has refuted lawyer M Ravi’s claim that his application for a practising certificate has been given in-principle approval.
Mr Ravi, who was suspended from legal practice in February this year because of the state of his mental health, had made the claim in a statement to the press on Tuesday, in which he said he would hold a rally tomorrow (Oct 24) with regard to the upcoming elections for the Law Society of Singapore’s (LawSoc) president.
In response to media queries, the AGC said yesterday that Mr Ravi’s application is still under review as “not all issues in relation to his fitness to practise have been addressed”.
“Contrary to (Mr Ravi’s) statements, the Attorney-General has not written to the Registrar to issue Mr Ravi a practising certificate that is subject to conditions,” said a spokesperson. “It is the understanding of the AGC that neither has the Law Society of Singapore given final approval.”
Mr Ravi’s legal practice was suspended by the High Court in February after it received information on the lawyer’s “impaired fitness to practise”.
Mr Ravi was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and LawSoc was informed that his psychiatrist, Dr Munidasa Winslow, had diagnosed him as being hypomanic. Hypomania is part of bipolar disorder and characterised by a distinct period of elevated or irritable mood.
The court had ordered then that Mr Ravi would need a medical report from Dr Winslow or another psychiatrist approved by LawSoc to certify that he is fit to practise, should he wish to apply to lift the suspension. Before LawSoc moved to have Mr Ravi suspended, the lawyer’s conduct in public on several occasions had raised eyebrows.
For instance, he went on a tirade against his one-time client, blogger Roy Ngerng, outside court. The rant was captured in a five-minute video that was posted online.
