On the morning of December 24, 2025, Singapore was met with the news of the death of 56-year-old M. Ravi, a prominent and often controversial former human rights lawyer. The Singapore Police Force confirmed the details surrounding his passing in response to media queries, revealing that the situation is currently being treated as a case of unnatural death.
The sequence of events began in the early hours of Christmas Eve. At approximately 5:41am, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received an urgent call for medical assistance at an apartment. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Mr. Ravi in an unconscious state. He was immediately transported to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for emergency medical intervention. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was subsequently pronounced dead at the hospital.
When the SCDF arrived at the apartment, another individual, described as a friend of Mr. Ravi, was present at the scene. This individual was the one who had contacted emergency services for help. During the initial police inquiry, the friend provided a statement regarding the hours leading up to the emergency call. He reportedly told officers that both he and Mr. Ravi had consumed drugs earlier that morning. According to the friend, Mr. Ravi began to exhibit "concerning symptoms" shortly after the substance was taken. In an attempt to save him, the friend claimed to have administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before the arrival of the paramedics.
Crucially, the friend also admitted to the authorities that the drugs consumed during the session belonged to him. Consequently, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) took the man into custody. He has been arrested for suspected drug-related offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act. While the police are investigating the death, they have noted that preliminary investigations do not currently suggest any foul play. However, the exact cause of death remains unconfirmed and will only be determined following a post-mortem examination.
M. Ravi was a well-known figure in the Singaporean legal and political landscape. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, he gained international recognition for his advocacy against the death penalty and his representation of death row inmates. He was also a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community and played a significant role in legal challenges against Section 377A before its eventual repeal. His legal career was marked by significant contributions to constitutional law, but also by a checkered history with regulatory authorities. In 2024, he was struck off the rolls and disbarred following several instances of professional misconduct and clashes with the judiciary.
Beyond his legal work, Mr. Ravi was a former political candidate, having contested the 2015 General Election with the Reform Party and volunteering for Red Dot United as recently as the 2025 General Election. He was also an author; his autobiography, "Kampong Boy," was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize in 2014. Throughout his life, he was open about his struggles with bipolar disorder, which often intersected with his professional challenges.
The news of his sudden passing has prompted various tributes from the legal fraternity. Fellow lawyers have acknowledged his tireless work for the "voiceless" and his impact on Singapore's jurisprudence, regardless of the controversies that followed him. As of December 24, police investigations into the circumstances of the unnatural death are ongoing. The arrest of the friend by the CNB underscores the gravity of the drug-related aspects of the case, while the legal community awaits the results of the post-mortem to understand the final moments of a man who spent much of his life in the public eye.
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