One just cannot keep former human rights lawyer and political activist M. Ravi out of the news. Singapore People’s Party (SPP) member Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss took to Facebook to recount how she was physically assaulted by Ravi earlier today (Aug 8).
For those who might not be familiar, Ravi was once famed for championing human rights causes, and he made his mark in Singapore’s law circles by taking on cases many wouldn’t dare to touch. These days, however, he’s known more for his daily tirades on Facebook Live — it’s a sad picture of a man who’s fallen from grace.
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the man was banned from practicing law till 2018, but continued to involve himself in cases — including that of Prabagaran Srivijayan, who was recently hanged for drug offences — earning the ire of many. He’s even gone as far as to throw baseless accusations against law minister K Shanmugam for sexual harassment and adultery.
Chong-Aruldoss, a lawyer and opposition politician, claims to be the latest victim of Ravi’s antics. She wrote a lengthy anecdote to recount the alleged attack.
“I was just physically assaulted by M Ravi. He was outside my office with 3 huge guys. I was approaching my office when he came towards me with the 3 guys. Then he spoke to me. I did not want to hear him, so I smiled and attempted to walk away, then he pushed me to the floor. I fell down. Then he took my handbag, briefcase and lunch bag and threw them at me. Then he told the 3 men that I had hit him, which I did not touch him AT ALL. Then he took my shoes and threw them at me. I stayed on the floor because I was shocked at his physical attack. Also because he kept ranting and making accusations, all the while kicking my things which have been strewed all over the corridor (my handbag was unzipped when I let it go when I was pushed to the floor). Eventually people who were walking to the toilet or who come out upon hearing his rants, saw me on on the floor and knew that I was being victimised. So they came and surrounded me and told me not to react to him. I wanted to hit back at him too (who wants to be victimised), but I knew that I could not when he was bigger than me and also had 3 huge men with him. So held my cool until M Ravi decided that he had enough (since now there were third parties around me) and he walked away, hurling remarks at me as he went. I am shaken. This happened 10 mins ago in the corridor outside my office.
Funny, while I am angry at being man handled by this madman, I am more angry at the fact that immediately after he pushed me to the floor (because I did not want to stand there and hear him rant at me) he then turned to his audience of 3 huge men (thugs) and declared that he had pushed me because I hit him – which is a shameful lie. He then repeated the lie to justify his intimidating actions in kicking my belongings, ranting, picking it up and throw it down again.
To those of my friends who are now asking me, Am I aright? My answer is NO, I am not alright. My heart is beating fast and I feel shaken.
I am not hurt in anyway, because I fell on my side and he only pushed me down but did not strike me or cause me injury. But I am outraged at being physically shoved and man handled.”
Of course, her claims are just her side of the story, and they can’t be verified for now — but to be honest, we wouldn’t be surprised if this was indeed true. Netizens were quick to side with her, with former The Online Citizen (TOC) editor Joshua Chiang describing her as a “trustworthy” person with no reason to lie.
According to TOC, Chong-Aruldoss works at Eugene Thuraisingam LLP, and the firm is said to have filed a police report against Ravi for the alleged assault. While the reason for the attack remains unknown, the two have worked in the same firm before, and clearly have been associates. Here’s another account by Chong-Aruldoss’ colleague, who firmly attested to her horrible experience with Ravi.
“I initially did not want to post anything about this on Facebook but it seems there are people who are determined to twist the facts and cast aspersions on my firm and my colleague, Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss about what happened today morning at my firm. I set out below my personal knowledge of the matter.
At about 10.45 am today, M Ravi and three male thugs appeared at the firm’s door wanting to come in. I informed my staff not to open the door. I spoke to Ravi to ask what he wanted. He said I was being filmed and on FBLive. One of the thugs was indeed holding a camera phone apparently filming me.
Ravi then claimed he is going to sue me and the firm and wanted to serve papers on us. Later, he talked some nonsense including alleging corruption of the firm, AGC, Courts, etc. I told him that he can email me with whatever he needs to convey to us. He demanded I come out and speak to him but I refused. After a short while, he gave up, scolded me in highly colourful language using both English and Tamil vulgarities and left. I then went back into my room.
Within less than a minute, my staff came running to say that Ravi had done something and Jeanette was on the floor in the corridor outside our unit. I immediately went out and saw that indeed, Jeannette was on the floor and all her things were strewn all over the corridor. I saw Ravi standing over her and shouting at her while the three thugs were standing by.
When I walked up to Ravi, he told the thugs to “get him”, referring to me. I spoke to one of them calmly and warned him not to touch me. I assumed he was not stupid enough to assault me in front of another law office, Miranda Law, our neighbours, whose staff were watching the commotion.
When Ravi saw that his thugs did not do anything to me, he got even more agitated and started screaming and shouting incoherently at me, making all sorts of allegations. At one point, he came nose to nose to my face and shouting, clearly expecting an angry reaction from me, so that his three thugs who were surrounding me could do something. I did not react. In between his rants, I told him he should let Jeanette go to the office. I don’t know whether he even heard me. Shortly thereafter, he grabbed what I think was Jeanette’s handbag from the floor and threw it at my face and hit me squarely on the nose. Again, I did not react.
Jeanette then tried to get up and get her things but Ravi tried to stop her and shouted at her, claiming that she was taking his things. I was genuinely afraid he was going to assault her in front me, so I tried to stand between her and Ravi and told him as calmly as I could, to leave.
Ravi continued ranting and raving for another minute or so and finally left. His three thugs were witness to all the happenings and one appeared to be filming everything.
So there.”
Reader Interactions