SINGAPORE - More than 400 people filled the hall at Mandai Crematorium while others crowded outside on Thursday evening to pay their respects to criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan. He died of heart failure on Wednesday morning at the age of 67, leaving his wife Vimala and 24-year-old son Sujesh.

"It is our loss, it is our country's loss, and the country mourns his departure. To his family, Vimala and Sujesh, Subhas was a loving husband and a loving father who often lamented that he should have spent more time with you," said Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who was one of those to deliver an eulogy. "Sujesh, your dad is immensely proud of your achievements, and it was one of the proudest moments of his life when you told him of your decision to take up law."

Others who spoke included lawyer Rajan Menon, senior partner at RHTLaw Taylor Wessing where Mr Subhas worked, and lawyer Noor Mohamed Marican, a long-time friend.

Those who attended his funeral included many in the legal fraternity such as Judicial Commissioner Valerie Thean, ex-clients he had defended and childhood friends. Earlier on Thursday, former president S R Nathan, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Attorney-General V. K. Rajah as well as Justices of Appeal Andrew Phang and Chao Hick Tin attended his wake at his Leonie Hill home.

Mr Subhas became a household name for defending notorious criminals, and for his pro bono work. He was undergoing dialysis at the Singapore General Hospital on Wednesday morning when his heart failed. He was later pronounced dead.