On May 19, 2025, Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident originally from Russia, was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for raping a woman he had met through the dating app Tinder. The sentence was handed down after he was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of outrage of modesty.
Panfilov, who had previously worked as a scriptwriter and actor with the local YouTube comedy channel Wah!Banana, committed the offences on January 12, 2021. The victim, then a 30-year-old woman with experience in acting and modelling, had been seeking guidance on branching into comedy scriptwriting when she connected with Panfilov on Tinder.
Their initial conversations led to a meeting at a restaurant in Robertson Quay, where the woman brought her laptop and began working on a script with him. As the restaurant was closing, Panfilov suggested they continue working at his flat. They travelled separately—Panfilov on his motorcycle and the woman in a Grab car.
Once at the flat, Panfilov led her to his bedroom, citing clutter in other parts of the apartment. They sat on his bed discussing comedic characters and watching stand-up performances. According to the woman’s testimony, Panfilov suddenly leaned in and kissed her. She told him “no” and tried to gather her belongings to leave, but he proceeded to sexually assault and rape her.
She endured the ordeal in silence until January 16, when she saw a doctor due to ongoing pain. The doctor advised her to make a police report. That same day, she went to a neighbourhood police centre but did not formally lodge a report. Two days later, on January 18, she confided in her mother, who took her to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. A police report was lodged the same day.
Panfilov admitted that sexual activity occurred but claimed it was consensual. He said the woman had shown flirtatious behaviour, such as laughing at his jokes and stroking his thigh. After the encounter, he booked her a Gojek ride and sent a message to check if she arrived home safely, to which she replied, “All good.” He said he chose not to reply further as her sense of humour, which included morbid jokes, did not match his.
The trial began in May 2023. During the proceedings, the woman was subjected to 13 days of cross-examination. Prosecutors highlighted Panfilov’s lack of remorse and pointed out that he had attempted to leave Singapore without court permission during the trial. He had secured a new passport without informing the investigating officer.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim sought 14 years' imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane, while the defence requested 10 years and 5 months with six strokes. Panfilov’s lawyer, Sameer Melber, argued that there was no premeditation and that the victim had voluntarily entered his bedroom. He also stated that Panfilov plans to get married later in 2025 and intends to pursue his education in prison.
On March 21, Justice Pang Khang Chau delivered his verdict, describing the woman as an “unusually convincing” witness whose testimony was consistent and well-supported. The judge found Panfilov’s account riddled with contradictions between his statements to police, video interviews, and courtroom testimony. The court concluded that Panfilov failed to raise reasonable doubt against the charges.
Panfilov has since filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence.
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