Members seek clarification on clash between M Ravi & law society

SINGAPORE: Some 50 members of the Law Society of Singapore have sought full clarification from the society’s Council on its conduct and protocols.

The move, which indicates a widening divide among members, comes after a Law Society council member, Mr Wong Siew Hong, appeared in High Court in July to hand over a letter from lawyer M Ravi’s psychiatrist.

The letter had stated Mr Ravi was medically—unfit to practise.

At that time, Mr Ravi was in court to argue the Hougang by—election case.

In a strongly—worded letter dated 20 September to the President of the society, "seven matters of principle" were raised.

The members, who filed a motion in August for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), asked if a member could be treated the way Mr Ravi was.

They asked for defined guidelines to deal with similar situations.

Among the questions raised in the letter — whether the council condoned the disclosure of confidential information given to the society, especially about its members and if the Secretariat had agreed for Mr Wong to intervene in Mr Ravi’s case.

In the ongoing clash between the society and Mr Ravi, the members asked if Mr Wong had the "express authority of Council" to tender the letter.

If not, they said a representative of the society who acts on his own accord should be barred from holding office in the Council or any sub—committee for at least two years.

The letter also questioned who will foot the legal costs of defending the society now that Mr Ravi is taking legal action.

While the letter stated that the clarifications were not meant to be a witch—hunt, it said that the society’s President, Wong Meng Meng, is "duty bound" to provide answers to its members.

The letter also voiced the frustrations of the lawyers, saying they were left in an awkward and embarrassing situation, due to the "lack of response from Council".

It stated that a separate letter seeking explanation on Mr Ravi’s matter sent by the Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore went unanswered.

But their questions may well be answered on 24 September at 6pm, when members of the Law Society meet at the Supreme Court auditorium for the EGM.

— CNA/ck