Truck‑in‑ed Bus Drivers Banish Their Lawyer
In a dramatic turn of events, 13 bus drivers who had taken on Singapore’s transport giant SBS Transit have decided to ditch their legal eagle, M. Ravi. They’re calling for a refund of the hefty fees they raised via crowd‑funding and are on the hunt for a fresh set of legal boots.
Ravi Goes Rogue – And the Drivers Are Not Amused
During a recent videoconference hearing, Mr. Ravi made a spectacle of himself. He accused Justice Audrey Lim of prejudice, demanded her resignation, and even dubbed the senior counsel Davinder Singh a “clown” while they pressed on over administrative details.
Captain Mr. Chua Qwong Meng, the lead plaintiff, spoke wryly: “We’re only a little embarrassed to admit we trusted a ‘lawyer’ who wanted to throw humor at the judicial system. He’s seriously let us down.”
Paid in the Name of the Public, but Bad Money Management
- Drivers spent a whopping $55,000+ on legal services.
- That money was raised through public donations, so it felt almost like a civic fundraising effort.
- Now they’re asking Ravi for a full accounting and a refund.
Ravi had also claimed during the hearing that the drivers “didn’t have faith in the system” and wanted to stop the “unlawful proceedings.” Mr. Chua publicly shot down those claims, saying the lawsuit is still alive and well.
Justice Limits Back on the Case – A Potential Panel of Precedents
Originally, the 13 bus drivers had thrown a legal wrench into SBS Transit’s operations in 2019 and again last year, arguing that they were forced to work without rest days and under‑paid for overtime.
Last month, Justice Lim decided to move the case to the High Court, recognizing that the questions were “important enough to affect a bigger group of workers.” The test case could shape:
- How employers schedule rest days.
- What counts as “essential services” under employment law.
- Calculating overtime pay.
And that means whatever verdict comes out will be binding for all the plaintiffs involved.
Go Ahead, Let the Next Lawyer Take the Reins
In a letter to the Supreme Court, Mr. Chua requested an adjournment until a new lawyer is in place and said he wouldn’t ask for the judge’s recusal. He also demanded that Ravi hand over all related documents by Nov 29 and provide a full payment statement.
He added: “I reserve the right to lodge a complaint to the Law Society.” You know, just to keep the law firm on their toes.
What’s Next
With the current legal counsel out the door, the bus drivers are on a mission to keep the fight alive and to avoid any “clownish” distractions. We’ll keep you posted on whether a new lawyer swoops in or if the case stays lodged in the higher court. Keep your popcorn handy – this legal saga is proving to be quite the drama!
