"Red flag" over M Ravi’s health raised by his doctor: Law Society

SINGAPORE: The man who raised concerns over lawyer M Ravi’s mental well—being to a High Court judge said the red flag originated from Mr Ravi’s psychiatrist.

Law Society member Wong Siew Hong was in the High Court on Monday and presented a letter from Dr Calvin Fones to Justice Philip Pillai, who was presiding over a case where Mr Ravi was acting counsel.

The letter stated, among other things, that Mr Ravi was "having a manic relapse of his bipolar disorder" and is "currently unfit to practise law".

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia on Tuesday, Mr Wong said he heads a sub—committee on member care in the Law Society, which works to "support members who have well—being issues".

Mr Wong says he was contacted on Sunday by Dr Fones, who said Mr Ravi was having a relapse.

Mr Wong then raised the matter to the Secretariat of the Law Society, which agreed that the matter should be brought to the attention of the court.

Mr Ravi confirmed with Channel NewsAsia that Dr Fones has been his appointed doctor since 2008, after he was charged for causing mischief and ordered by the court to seek evaluation at the Institute of Mental Health.

The lawyer said he was allowed to continue with his practice, on the condition that he submits a medical report to the Law Society every four months.

On his current situation, Mr Ravi said he saw Dr Fones on Saturday, but no mention was made about his alleged declining health.

Mr Ravi also questioned why he was not given medication, if Dr Fones believed he was having a relapse.

The lawyer, who calls the letter "ridiculous", said he intends to complain about Dr Fones to the Singapore Medical Association.

— CNA/wm