In a high-profile case that has garnered significant public and legal attention, Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old former actor known for his work on the comedy channel Wah!Banana, was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison on Monday, May 19, for multiple sexual offences, including rape, sexual assault by penetration, and molestation.
In addition to his custodial sentence, Panfilov was also ordered to receive 12 strokes of the cane. The court proceedings revealed a detailed account of the charges, the evidence presented, and the legal arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
Key Highlights:
- Lev Panfilov, former Wah!Banana actor, sentenced to 11.5 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for multiple sexual offenses involving a woman met on Tinder
- The victim’s testimony was highly convincing, while Panfilov was found to be an uncredible witness attempting to distance himself from the events.
- The prosecution sought a 14-year sentence with 16 strokes of the cane, citing the physical and mental harm caused to the victim.
- Panfilov’s lawyers argued the incident was a spontaneous, consensual act, reducing his culpability, but the court emphasized the seriousness of rape. The case drew public attention, including backlash against victim-shaming comments by a legal figure, with the Law Minister condemning misogyny.
Background and Conviction Details
Panfilov, who holds permanent residency in Singapore, faced four criminal charges in relation to a sexual assault incident involving a woman he met through Tinder. The charges included two counts of rape, one of sexual assault by penetration, and one of molestation. He chose to stand trial and claimed trial to all charges. His conviction by the High Court was delivered in March by Justice Pang Khang Chau, who found the former actor guilty of all four charges.
According to Channel News Asia, the court heard that the victim, whose identity is protected by a gag order, was a model-actress and an aspiring comedy scriptwriter. The prosecution argued that Panfilov sexually assaulted her in his room following a meeting at a restaurant.
The incident reportedly took place on January 12, 2021, after they left the restaurant where they had been working on a script together. According to the prosecution, the victim and Panfilov had begun their interaction at Wine Connection, where they initially discussed scriptwriting, and then moved to his residence.
The court was told that the victim, seeking help with her script, voluntarily accompanied Panfilov to his house, and both proceeded to continue working on their script. During this period, Panfilov suddenly kissed her on the lips, after which he sexually assaulted her.
The victim reported feeling depressed over the next few days but initially chose not to disclose the incident to her family out of concern for their worries. She eventually decided to seek medical attention due to pain in her vaginal area and lower abdomen, and a doctor advised her to file a police report.
The victim contacted police officers on January 16, 2021, but initially refrained from lodging a report, fearing disbelief and the trauma of recounting the incident. She ultimately lodged her report on January 18, 2021, after confiding in her mother, as per the news reports.
Key Court Findings and Trial Proceedings
Justice Pang Khang Chau, in his March ruling, described the victim as an “unusually convincing” witness, while characterizing Panfilov as not a credible witness. The judge noted irregularities in Panfilov’s evidence, describing them as “symptomatic of his attempt to distance himself from events,” though ultimately unsuccessful.
The court emphasized that the harm caused to the victim was both physical and mental, with the judge acknowledging the “significant degree” of physical pain involved in the rape convictions.
During the trial, Panfilov’s defense argued that the entire incident resulted from a “single continuous act” lasting approximately two hours. His lawyer, Sameer Melber from Gabriel Law Corporation, highlighted that according to the undisputed facts, the victim “voluntarily” met Panfilov, booked her own ride to his house, and entered his room willingly. The lawyer emphasized that she sat on Panfilov’s bed “of her own volition” and that the events leading up to the molestation were “spontaneous and occurred in the heat of the moment.”
The defense sought a reduced sentence of 10 years and five months in jail along with six strokes of the cane, emphasizing that Panfilov was a first-time offender, intends to marry later this year, and plans to continue his university education while incarcerated. Panfilov’s lawyers also argued that he was not a danger to society and that his actions were not premeditated.
Prosecution’s Arguments and Sentencing
The prosecution, however, requested a sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane, asserting that Panfilov’s actions caused both physical and psychological harm to the victim. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim stated that the two rape convictions involved a “significant degree” of physical pain and that Panfilov showed a lack of remorse during the trial, which warranted a “significant upward calibration” of his sentence.
The prosecution also highlighted that Panfilov had “prolonged his trial unnecessarily” by subjecting the victim to a lengthy “marathon” of 13 days of cross-examination, which involved repeated questioning on areas already canvassed by the defense.
During the sentencing hearing, Justice Pang acknowledged the seriousness of the harm associated with rape but did not agree that the level of harm constituted a separate aggravating factor. He noted that the harm caused by rape itself is already very serious. Justice Pang also addressed the issue of Panfilov’s attempted departure from Singapore without permission while on bail, which he viewed as indicative of his attitude.
The judge further commented on the conduct of the trial, noting that although the prolonged cross-examination might have retraumatized the victim, the defense was “careful” not to cross-examine her in a scandalous manner.
The high-profile case drew public attention and sparked controversy within the legal community. Former Law Society of Singapore Vice-President Chia Boon Teck commented on LinkedIn, seemingly questioning the victim’s actions and making remarks perceived as victim-shaming. His comments faced widespread backlash and outrage from the public and legal fraternity members, prompting the Law Society to ask him to resign from his position.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam responded to the controversy, emphasizing that “shaming and blaming victims steps over the line” and that “any misogyny should have no place in our society.”
Sentencing
Panfilov was arrested on December 9, 2023, and has been in remand since then. His sentence will be backdated to reflect his period of remand. The court’s decision included the option for Panfilov to appeal both his conviction and sentence.
Under Singapore law, those convicted of rape face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and can be fined or caned. The penalties for sexual assault by penetration mirror those of rape, while molestation carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, with possible fines, caning, or both.
In conclusion, Lev Panfilov’s sentencing underscores the gravity of sexual offenses and the Singapore judiciary’s stance on such crimes.
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