Singapore:
Five Indian nationals, facing trial in Singapore's worst riot last December, will be given a new lawyer each after an activist lawyer discharged himself from their case.
The five accused Ravi Arun Vengatesh (25), Selvanathan Murugaeson (28), Periyaiah Ganesan (25), Arun Kaliamurthy (28) and Rajendran Mohan( 26) will be assigned a pro bono lawyer each by the Singapore Law Society's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS).
The term "pro bono" refers to legal services performed free of charge.
Their previous lawyer M Ravi said he was "reluctant" to discharge from the five men, but "evolving circumstances", such as other cases he has since taken on, led to his decision, The Straits Times reported today.
However, a Law Society spokesman noted that "It is problematic when accused persons ask for pro bono lawyers, are given such volunteers, then discharge them, then ask for pro bono lawyers again."
He said CLAS believes this will be difficult, given that the five had discharged their first set of pro bono lawyers.
"The five cases are almost at trial stage, which means that the new pro bono lawyers will have very little time to prepare (for the cases)," he said.
CLAS said it will try its best to help the five who are "without means" to have a second change of lawyers.
They had earlier switched from CLAS' pro bono lawyers and privately engaged the activist lawyer.
Ravi, who had earlier withdrawn two applications linked to the Little India riot and the five men, said the five had approached him in December for pro bono help which he "could not in good conscience deny".
He had originally asked the charges against his five clients to be quashed, alleging that the state-appointed Committee of Inquiry into the riot was in contempt of court.
Among the 25 accused in the Little India riot case, five have been given jail terms of 18 to 33 months each for rioting.
Another nine, whose rioting charges were amended, were each handed jail terms between 15 and 36 weeks.
The five are among 11 whose cases are pending.