Authorities in Singapore have announced that a man who reportedly took drugs with former lawyer M. Ravi just hours before Ravi’s death will be charged on Friday.

The 40-year-old man is accused of arranging a gathering where controlled drugs were consumed. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in jail and 10 strokes of the cane.

According to a joint statement by the Singapore Police Force and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), the two men had known each other since 2023 and first met through a social networking app. The gathering allegedly took place at the man’s apartment on December 24, during which drugs were reportedly consumed and other activities occurred.

The man stated that Mr Ravi began showing concerning symptoms and later became unresponsive. He performed CPR before calling the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) at 5:41 a.m. Mr Ravi was taken unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Investigators found that the man may have deliberately disposed of drugs before police arrived and has been referred for a possible offence of perverting the course of justice. CNB officers arrested him for suspected drug offences and seized drug-related items from the apartment. His urine tested positive for a controlled drug, with further tests pending.

Investigations by the police and CNB are ongoing. Once completed, findings will be submitted to the State Coroner to determine whether a coroner’s inquiry is needed.