Harassment of lawyer is wrong. Raiding lawyer's office and taking computers and files relating to cases is wrong - what happened solicitor-client privilege. Is the government taking these 'confidential' informations?
Singapore police claimed to be investigating Ravi for contempt of court in relation to a case involving a Singaporean extradited from Malaysia, in which Ravi was acting as counsel...He said Ravi’s phones and passport were seized.
For a lawyer representing Malaysians, the taking of the passport means the lawyer cannot even meet his client's family and even potential witnesses..
If they are investigating for 'contempt of court' - what contempt exactly... The taking of confidential information from a lawyer relating to cases he is handling undermines the right to a FAIR TRIAL?
It is different if the lawyer is being investigated for corruption or some other crimes, but even then, files including computers/smart phones that may contain 'confidential information' which may enjoy 'solicitor client privilege' should NEVER be taken...
Rights group hits out at raid on lawyer’s office by Singapore cops
PETALING JAYA: Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has hit out at a
Singapore police raid on the office of lawyer M Ravi, saying it is
related to his vigorous defence of the rights of Malaysian death row
prisoners in the republic.
It said the raid, which took place yesterday, was “highly prejudicial” to the pending cases of the Malaysians at Changi Prison.
In a statement today, LFL adviser N Surendran said Singapore police
claimed to be investigating Ravi for contempt of court in relation to a
case involving a Singaporean extradited from Malaysia, in which Ravi was
acting as counsel.
He said Ravi’s phones and passport were seized.
“This is an act of blatant and illegal harassment and intimidation against Ravi, who was merely doing his duty as a lawyer.
“Ravi has been the repeated target of harassment and intimidation by
the Singapore government and AG ever since he took up the cases of
Malaysian drug mules on death row at Changi Prison.
“For example, as recently as February, the Singapore AG threatened to
take action against Ravi during a court hearing in which he represented
Malaysian death row prisoners Datchinamurthy Kataiah and Gobi Avedian,”
he said.
Surendran said the latest action against the human rights lawyer came
ahead of the hearing of a legal challenge filed by him in the Singapore
Court of Appeal on behalf of Gobi.
He said Ravi had successfully reopened the drug mule’s case on
grounds of serious miscarriage of justice, and the matter was scheduled
to be heard on March 27.
“Until Ravi’s intervention, Gobi was facing imminent execution as all his appeals had been disposed of.
“With yesterday’s police action and impounding of passport, it is now
uncertain whether Ravi will be allowed to argue the case,” he said.
Surendran said the seizing of Ravi’s passport was “clearly aimed at
making it difficult for Ravi to meet the Malaysian families of prisoners
as well as instructing Malaysian solicitors”.
“We call upon the Singapore government to cease all unlawful threats,
police actions and intimidation against Ravi. We further urge Singapore
to respect the Malaysian death row prisoners’ right to a fair hearing
of their pending cases in the Singapore courts.
“We also urge the new Malaysian government to make the necessary
representations to Singapore, to preserve and protect the rights of
Malaysian prisoners,” he said. - FMT News, 14/3/2020
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