M Ravi’s medical report certifies him fit to practise

SINGAPORE: The Law Society of Singapore has been given a copy of lawyer M Ravi’s medical report, which certifies him fit to practise.

Speaking to the media after a closed—door session on Thursday morning, Mr Ravi’s lawyer, Louis Joseph, said his client’s psychiatrist Dr Munidasa Winslow has certified him fit to practise.

Dr Winslow, who saw Mr Ravi on six occasions, certified in a letter that his bipolar disorder "is not affecting his professional capacity" as a lawyer.

After tendering the document in court, Mr Joseph said the Law Society has asked to speak with Mr Ravi’s psychiatrist to find out more.

The latest development follows the Law Society’s application in late August, for a court order to have Mr Ravi medically checked by a psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health, to determine if he’s fit to practise law in Singapore.

The originating summons filed by the society said if Mr Ravi fails to submit to the medical examination, his practising certificate will be suspended.

It added that if the IMH report states that Mr Ravi is unfit to practise law, his certificate will be suspended.

The two parties will meet again on November 5 for this matter.

Separately, Mr Joseph also gave an update on the lawsuit filed by Mr Ravi against the Law Society.

On Mr Ravi’s demand to expel the society’s council members and the defamation suit against the society, Mr Joseph said the two parties are still exchanging information.

The lawsuit comes after one of the Law Society’s members, Mr Wong Siew Hong, appeared in the High Court in July on three occasions to present a letter allegedly written by Mr Ravi’s psychiatrist.

The letter, signed off by Dr Calvin Fones, stated that Mr Ravi was having a relapse of bipolar disorder, and was "unfit to practise law".

Mr Ravi accused the Law Society and Mr Wong of failing to investigate the letter’s content before it was made known to the public.

He also claimed that Mr Wong’s actions had breached the confidentiality of the letter.

Last month, an Extraordinary General Meeting was demanded by 51 members of the Law Society to shed light on the clash between the society and Mr Ravi.

But a spokesperson for the 51 members said the meeting failed to answer their questions.

After the meeting, Law Society President Wong Meng Meng said Mr Wong Siew Hong had acted on his own accord and had not been authorised by the society.

Some members have indicated that they may file another motion to censure the society’s committee.

— CNA/cc