SINGAPORE — Hundreds turned up to bid their final goodbyes to criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan at his funeral yesterday evening, where eulogies were delivered paying tribute to his brilliance in the legal arena, compassion for his clients and dedication to his family.

The eulogies were delivered by Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Subhas’ nephew Kesavan Nair, long-time friend and Association of Muslim Lawyers president Noor Mohamed Marican and law firm senior partner Rajan Menon.

Subhas — known for representing some of Singapore’s most notorious criminals and respected for his sharp legal skills — died of a heart failure on Wednesday morning during a thrice-weekly dialysis session at the Singapore General Hospital. He was 67.

His wake at his Leonie Hill home drew a steady flow of mourners over two days, with former President S R Nathan, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Attorney-General V K Rajah, Justices of Appeal Andrew Phang and Chao Hick Tin as well as Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan turning up yesterday.

In his eulogy, Mr Shanmugam said that, to the legal fraternity, Subhas was like an elder brother.

“His 40 years of experience in overcoming the odds in court, in cases that had originally seemed to be lost, made him a legend in the criminal bar. His incisive intellect and dogged perseverance were tempered by a sharp wit and infectious sense of humour,” he said.

Mr Shanmugam added that to the people he defended and the general public, Subhas was a hero. “His reputation for taking on the toughest cases, often pro bono, and then succeeding against the odds, made him a mainstay in the news and a beacon of hope to the accused whom he defended.”

He added that he had nearly missed a lunch appointment with Subhas after the latter had suggested they meet after an event last October. “At about 12.45pm on a Sunday afternoon, perhaps 1pm, he called me and said, ‘Where are you?’ Thankfully, I happened to be free and rushed down, and I’m glad I did.”

Mr Menon, who co-founded RHTLaw Taylor Wessing with Subhas and several other partners in 2011, said Subhas’ childhood in a kampung in Sembawang allowed him to witness first-hand the circumstances of those who were forced to turn to crime but were unable to defend themselves.

“Subhas’ predominant sentiment, from first to last, was a deep devotion to the cause of human liberty and rights — a strong sympathy with the underdog everywhere and an ardent wish for their elevation,” said Mr Menon, who had met Subhas at the then-University of Singapore, where they both studied law.

During Subhas’ career, prosecutors, fellow lawyers and officers of regulatory bodies feared and sometimes hated — yet always respected — him, added Mr Menon.

The late lawyer — who fervently believed that even the most heinous criminals deserved their day in a court of law — often represented his clients for free if they had no means to pay. Mr Menon said Subhas’ former clients had even offered him their organs, while taxi drivers on the road would stop their vehicles out of awe and regard to give way to him if he was crossing.

Subhas’ nephew, Mr Kesavan Nair, said in his eulogy that while “the accused, the impoverished and the troubled” relied on him for help and comfort, Subhas relied completely on his family.

“He relied on his two brothers and two sisters for strength, his wife (Vimala, 56) for his will and purpose in life and on his son (Sujesh, 24) for hope,” he said. “Subhas’ family will miss their rock, his friends will miss the bond they shared with him, his colleagues will miss the counsel he had given and his clients will miss their champion.”