Indian in Singapore sentenced to 14 weeks in jail for multiple crimes

NEW DELHI: Indian-origin human rights lawyer of Singapore M Ravi has been sentenced to 14 weeks’ jail and charged SGD 5,500 ($4,120) fine for a series of crimes on Friday.
Ravi was accused of pushing and injuring strangers and acquaintances including a priest of a Hindu temple in the city- state. All the offences were conducted by the former lawyer between November 2021 and September 2023.
While the prosecutor sought a jail term of 18 to 24 weeks and a fine for Ravi, the defense lawyers requested a sentence of no more than seven weeks in jail along with a fine.
Ravi was also ordered to pay a compensation of SGD 30 to one of the victims injured by him, according to Channel News Asia.

Scene at temple

On July 9, 2023, Ravi had pushed his way to the front of the devotees’ queue at Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore. When a priest tried to intervene, the former lawyer also pushed him, questioning the large number of foreigners and the need to queue at the temple.

Bipolar disorder

In 2018, M Ravi received a Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO) to address his bipolar disorder, along with charges for causing hurt by a rash act, lurking house trespass, and other offenses.
Deputy principal district judge Luke Tan dismissed the defense’s request to consider Ravi’s bipolar condition as a mitigating factor in sentencing. The court said that the former lawyer was aware of his condition for many years but still failed to fully adhere to treatment and medication.
In 2004, he was fined for his disorderly conduct.
Despite facing legal troubles before, this is the first time that Ravi was jailed for criminal offences.