In a recent legal development that has garnered significant attention, the 54-year-old lawyer, M Ravi, found himself sentenced to 21 days’ jail on 8 November for contempt of court, according to Channel NewsAsia.
M Ravi was convicted of nine instances of contempt, with all of the offences taking place in November of 2021 – four of the charges occured in the State Courts before District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt and five in the High Court before Justice Audrey Lim.
Accusations and Contemptuous Actions
He was found guilty of making baseless accusations against Judge Chay of bias, intentionally interrupting the judge, and even insulting him by suggesting that the State could remove him at will.
These contemptuous actions were not limited to Judge Chay alone. Similar allegations were made against Justice Lim in a separate hearing involving Chua Qwong Meng against SBS Transit.
Furthermore, Mr. Ravi applied for Justice Lim to disqualify herself on the grounds of bias, without being instructed to do so by his client.
Bipolar Disorder as a Contributing Factor
A significant aspect of this case is the fact that Mr. Ravi was suffering from a hypomanic episode arising from his bipolar disorder as he pointed out during his defence.
However, the prosecution argued that the disorder doesn’t limit his ability to control himself and exercise restraint during the offences.
The prosecution sought a five-week jail term for M Ravi, along with substantial costs of S$12,000 and disbursements.
M Ravi represented himself during the court proceedings and argued that jail should be imposed only as a last resort. He pointed to the substantial impact of his bipolar disorder on his behavior at the time and requested fines as a more suitable form of punishment, given the unique circumstances surrounding his case.
The Verdict and Rationale
Justice Hoo Sheau Peng, in her judgment, acknowledged the connection between M Ravi’s bipolar disorder and his actions.
However, she did not believe that his disorder substantially impaired his capacity to exercise self-restraint. She emphasized the seriousness of M Ravi’s offenses, considering his related history of misconduct in the courtroom and a lack of remorse in previous disciplinary proceedings.
Ultimately, Justice Hoo awarded the Attorney-General costs of S$10,000.
M Ravi’s Response
Following the hearing, M Ravi expressed his disappointment with the sentence on Facebook, describing it as “very harsh.”
However, he announced his decision not to appeal and indicated his willingness to serve the sentence immediately.