SINGAPORE must drop its bid to disbar lawyer M. Ravi, who is representing Malaysian death row prisoners there, said legal rights advocacy group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL).

LFL adviser N. Surendran said they strongly condemned the high-handed action against Ravi, a Singaporean, and demanded that Singapore drop all charges against him.

“We further demand that Singapore cease and desist from further threatening or interfering with lawyers of Malaysian death row prisoners.

“We also urge Putrajaya to make urgent representations to Singapore in protest against the continual persecution and threats against Malaysian lawyers,” he said in a statement.

Surendran was commenting on Singapore’s move to act against human rights lawyer Ravi, who has been representing the family of Malaysian citizen Nagaenthran Dharmalingam.

Nagaenthran is on death row in Changi prison.

Yesterday, Ravi was served with notice of action by the Singapore attorney-general (A-G) for allegedly “prejudicing the administration of justice”.

“The A-G has filed a complaint on those grounds to the Singapore Law Society, which is likely to result in Ravi being barred from legal practice. In addition, contempt of court charges may be brought against Ravi,” said Surendran.

He said the complaint against Ravi was made after a statement he had issued in Malaysia during a press conference on July 23 in his capacity as lawyer for Nagaenthran.

“Singapore is notorious for prosecuting those who criticise its unfair death penalty regime that targets drug mules, while drug kingpins are free to ply their trade.

“For courageously defending a mentally impaired Malaysian citizen, Ravi now stands to lose his licence to practice law.”

Nagaenthran, 30, was arrested in Singapore in 2009 after 42.72g of heroin was found strapped to his thigh.

He was found guilty for drug trafficking and sentenced to death in November 2011.

Surendran said Ravi has been fighting a vigorous battle to save Nagaenthran’s life on grounds that it is in breach of international legal norms to hang a person who suffers from a mental disability.

He added it is shocking that not only are Malaysians being targeted, but they are being denied legal representation.

“It is clear that Singapore now wants to hang Malaysians without giving them the benefit of proper legal representation.

“In July, Singapore threatened to take action against myself as instructing solicitor for Malaysian prisoners in Changi on a trumped up charge of scandalising its judiciary.

“Similarly, they are now persecuting Ravi, who is known internationally for his relentless advocacy on behalf of death row prisoners and against the death penalty.” – August 20, 2019.