Veteran lawyer Subhas Anandan dies
Mr Subhas Anandan, 67, died on Wednesday morning from heart failure, his family confirmed.
SINGAPORE: Veteran lawyer Subhas Anandan died on Wednesday morning (Jan 7) from heart failure, his family confirmed. He was 67.
In a statement, they said: "Mr Subhas Anandan passed away this morning from heart failure. The family is grateful for the outpouring of condolences and love for the late Subhas. The family asks to be able to grieve privately during this very difficult time. Details of the funeral will be shared at a later stage.”
Mr Subhas was reported to be struggling with multiple health issues, including long-standing heart and kidney ailments
TRIBUTES FOR "GIANT OF A MAN"
Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday that his heart is "filled with sadness" with his "dear friend and fellow lawyer's" passing.
"Subhas’ strong sense of justice has made him a legal legend to the Bar as well as general public. His unswerving belief in fair representation for the accused, and granting them a second chance in life, makes him an inspiring role model for the rest of the Criminal Bar," he wrote.
Minister of Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong said he was saddened by Mr Subhas' passing and that Singapore has lost "an inspirational, determined and courageous individual". Mr Wong also shared a little-known fact about Mr Subhas - the attorney had served as President of Cuesports Singapore from 2006 to 2011, before becoming its Patron-in-Chief since 2012.
Lawrence Wong pays tribute to Subhas Anandan
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said Mr Subhas was "honest, fearless, and a pillar of the legal community and a leader of the Criminal Bar".
Attorney-General V K Rajah noted that Mr Subhas was a "pioneer in promoting pro bono services long before this gained recognition as constituting an essential facet of legal practice".
"His remarkable resilience, extraordinary fortitude and boundless optimism in overcoming many professional and personal challenges bear further mention. All in all, he was a lawyer with a good head, a big heart and an uncommon touch. The legal community will miss him," he said.
Mr Subhas' law firm, RHTLaw Taylor Wessing, also issued a statement on Wednesday, stating it had lost "one of our family members and one of its leading lights".
"Mr Subhas Anandan passed away this morning leaving behind his wife Vimala and only son Sujesh. Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with Vimala, Sujesh and their immediate family in this difficult time," the statement said.
Mr Rajan Menon, Senior Partner at RHTLaw Taylor Wessing, added: "Subhas was a man of integrity, boundless energy, passion, compassion, generosity and a staunch defender of the rule of law. People who have been helped by Subhas, and there have been so many, will know that beneath that stern and fierce demeanour, was one of the kindest and warmest man you could ever meet. Subhas gave wholeheartedly to those to whom he could.
"We are sad to have lost one of our own but are honoured to have served with this giant of a man who had a heart of gold. Today we grieve the loss of a great man.”
Mr Noor Mohamed Marican, President of the Association of Muslim Lawyers (AML), said he was "deeply aggrieved" to hear of Mr Subhas' passing.
"He was like a brother to me and we would stand by each other in good and bad times. His selflessness and genuine compassion for the poor is his legacy which we will all look to continue. Subhas has left a massive hole in the profession through his passing which would be difficult to be filled by anyone else," he said.
"He is a very senior lawyer, someone who we respect. Someone who guides most of the junior lawyers. For the last over 40 years that I have known him, he has been someone very kind to the needy. For those who cannot afford lawyers, they will always look for him. It is a great loss to us... He has been a mentor to so many lawyers who are doing criminal work. Whenever you have any problems, Subhas will be there to help."
President of the Law Society Thio Shen Yi said: "Throughout his career, Subhas was recognised as a renown criminal lawyer who took on some of the most high profile criminal cases in Singapore’s legal history. Known for his tenacity and perseverance both in and outside of Court, he will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his colleagues at the Bar, particularly the criminal Bar."
Some of Mr Subhas' childhood friends shared their memories of the veteran lawyer. 61-year-old Mr V. Ghanesh said: "We've known each other since young. We used to go to his house every New Year to celebrate with his family. He is a superb guy and a top lawyer."
A former schoolmate of Mr Subhas, 67-year-old Mr Soman, spoke positively about the lawyer's character: "We studied in the same school when we were young. Subhas was the president of our Hindu temple at Canberra road ... and I was with him for more than 15 years. He has a very good heart to help people. Whenever anybody comes to him with problems, he will always be willing to do his best to help. I am very upset to have lost a very good friend in my life. I have nothing else to say now but for God to bless him."
LEGACY WILL LIVE ON
Mr Subhas was President of the Association of Criminal Lawyers in Singapore and a senior partner at RHTLaw Taylor Wessing. He gained a reputation for taking on several high-profile criminal cases, including the case of Anthony Ler in 2001 - who hired a teenager to kill his wife - and the Took Leng How case in 2004, according to a TODAY report.
A bursary for ex-inmates in his name - The Yellow Ribbon Fund Subhas Anandan Star Bursary Award - was launched on Oct 28 last year by the Association of Muslim Lawyers (AML). It provides financial support for ex-convicts who wish to further their studies, allowing them a second chance to realise their dreams.
AML said in a statement: "Although Subhas has passed on, his giant legacy of compassion, goodwill and kindness will live forever through the bursary and ultimately, through the countless lives that he has touched. The AML will continue to raise funds for the Subhas Anandan Bursary and follow his legacy of pro bono work for the poor in society."
Mr Subhas' family suggested that memorial contributions be sent to the bursary, which aims to provide financial support to ex-inmates who want to further their education.
