SINGAPORE: In a case that has stunned the community, Lev Panfilov, a former actor known for his role in the comedy channel Wah!Banana, was convicted on March 21, 2023, of raping a woman he met on the popular dating app Tinder. The High Court found him guilty on four serious charges, including rape and sexual assault by penetration.

Due to legal restrictions, the victim's identity remains protected, but the details of her testimony have raised significant attention. Justice Pang Khang Chau, who presided over the case, highlighted that the victim's account was "unusually convincing" despite some challenges in her testimony.

Key pieces of evidence discussed included the circumstances surrounding the victim’s decisions following the assault. After the incident, she provided Panfilov with her home address to help arrange a ride home, and she continued to communicate with him via text messages. The prosecution argued that these actions could be misunderstood; the victim later explained that she was in a state of shock and confusion.

Justice Pang noted that while there were moments of inconsistency in the victim's statements—such as conflicting reports about her ability to scream during the assault and an unusual request for a medical memo—these discrepancies did not detract from her overall credibility. In contrast, he expressed doubts about Panfilov's reliability as a witness, indicating that his testimony appeared to be an attempt to evade responsibility.

The events unfolded on January 12, 2021, when the victim, an aspiring model and comedy scriptwriter, met Panfilov for help with her script at a Wine Connection restaurant. After their meeting, they moved to Panfilov's residence to continue their discussions. It was during this time that Panfilov allegedly assaulted her, a moment that would drastically alter the victim's life.

In the subsequent days, the trauma led the victim into a deep depression, and her hesitance to confide in her family complicated her emotional state. Fears of disbelief and social exposure initially prevented her from seeking justice, but she ultimately made a brave decision to report the assault to the police on January 18, 2021.

Panfilov, who appeared in court wearing a purple prison jumpsuit and was visibly distressed as the verdict was delivered, continues to assert that the encounter was consensual. The defense claimed that the sexual encounter was initiated by the victim, but this was firmly disputed by the prosecution.

As the case draws attention to ongoing issues of sexual assault and victim support, sentencing for Lev Panfilov is pending, with implications that could resonate throughout Singapore’s entertainment industry. This conviction marks a significant moment in the fight against sexual violence, reiterating the importance of believing survivors and addressing the challenges they face.