M Ravi had taken drugs together with friend & exhibited 'concerning symptoms' before death: SPF

Former lawyer and political candidate M Ravi had consumed drugs before his death on Dec. 24, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

Responding to media queries, SPF said they were called to attend to an urgent case in an apartment at 5:41am on Christmas Eve.

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics attended to 56-year-old M Ravi.

He was admitted unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Drugs belonged to another person who was at apartment

When SCDF went to the apartment, another person was there.

The person, whom SPF referred to as "A", said he and Ravi had taken drugs a few hours earlier.

"A" was the one who called for medical assistance.

"A" said Ravi exhibited "concerning symptoms" after consuming the drugs, and "A" administered CPR to Ravi.

"A" said the drugs belonged to him. He has since been arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau for suspected drug-related offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

SPF added that the police were also alerted to the case of unnatural death.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

The cause of death can only be confirmed after the post-mortem and police investigations are ongoing, SPF said.

Ravi was a former political candidate who contested in GE2015 with the Reform Party, and more recently volunteered with Red Dot United in GE2025.

His 2013 book, "Kampong Boy", was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize.

As a lawyer, Ravi was best known for representing inmates on death row and his strong stances on human rights issues, but had a checkered history with the authorities.

Top image via M. Ravi Law