Former lawyer Ravi Madasamy, widely known as M. Ravi, has died after being found unconscious in the early hours of Dec 24. Police are investigating the case as an unnatural death but have said that foul play is not suspected at this stage.
The police said they were alerted to a 56-year-old man who was admitted unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital at about 6.50am. He was later pronounced dead. Investigations are ongoing.
Mr Ravi was a prominent and controversial figure in Singapore’s legal fraternity, known for his fearless advocacy, particularly in constitutional and human rights cases. Over nearly three decades, he was involved in several landmark matters that shaped public discourse on civil liberties and the death penalty.
Lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam, who had represented Mr Ravi in court and described him as a friend, said he was deeply saddened by the news. He noted that despite his personal struggles, Mr Ravi remained steadfast in the causes he believed in, adding that his cases helped shape Singapore’s constitutional law.
Criminal lawyer Shashi Nathan described Mr Ravi as divisive but principled, saying that beneath his controversies was a lawyer who genuinely wanted the best for his clients and was unafraid to challenge authority.
Born into a difficult family environment, Mr Ravi spoke openly about his upbringing, sharing that his parents faced severe hardships and that his mother worked as a construction labourer to support the family. One of seven siblings, he studied law in Britain after graduating from the National University of Singapore and was called to the Bar in 1997.
Mr Ravi became widely known for his opposition to Section 377A, arguing that the law criminalising sex between men was discriminatory and incompatible with the Government’s stated policy of non-enforcement. The provision was repealed in 2022.
He was also instrumental in overturning the death sentence of Malaysian national Gobi Avedian, filing a review application that resulted in the reinstatement of a non-capital sentence.
However, Mr Ravi’s career was also marked by disciplinary proceedings. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006, he faced repeated sanctions for professional misconduct, including making baseless allegations against institutions and disruptive courtroom behaviour. In 2024, he was struck off the rolls by the Court of Three Judges over two separate matters.
Despite this, he received international recognition in 2023 from the International Bar Association for his contributions to human rights advocacy, describing the award as arriving during one of the most challenging periods of his life.
Mr Ravi was also politically active, contesting the 2015 General Election under the Reform Party banner.
Members of the legal profession who knew him acknowledged that while his methods were often controversial, his impact on Singapore’s criminal and constitutional jurisprudence was undeniable.
The fact that Mr Ravi was both sanctioned and internationally recognised speaks to the complexity of his legacy. He forced uncomfortable conversations about human rights, mental health in the legal profession, and how systems treat those who do not fit neatly within them.
In death, he deserves neither sanitisation nor vilification—but compassion.
Mr Ravi was a reminder that legal systems are not only built on rules, but on people—flawed, passionate, sometimes broken people—who dare to test the limits of justice. His life invites reflection not just on accountability, but on how professions support (or fail to support) those who struggle while serving difficult causes.
Whatever one’s view of him, Mr M. Ravi leaves behind a body of work that changed lives, saved at least one man from the gallows, and shaped debates that continue today.
