Latest news with #Panfilov
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Straits Times
S'pore PR from Russia caught at Changi Airport trying to fly off during trial gets 11½ years' jail and caning for rape
S'pore PR from Russia caught at Changi Airport trying to fly off during trial gets 11½ years' jail and caning for rape Selina Lum The Straits Times May 19, 2025 A TikToker and former scriptwriter-actor with local YouTube comedy channel Wah!Banana was sentenced to 11½ years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on May 19 for raping a woman he had met on the dating app Tinder. Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident originally from Russia, was earlier found guilty by the High Court of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of outrage of modesty. The assault took place on Jan 12, 2021, in Panfilov's bedroom after he invited the woman back to the flat he shared with flatmates to work on her script. The woman, who was then 30 years old, had worked as an actress and model and was trying to branch out into comedy writing. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim sought 14 years' jail and 16 strokes of the cane. In written submissions, the prosecution said Panfilov lacked remorse, as he had prolonged his trial unnecessarily by subjecting the woman to a marathon 13 days of cross-examination. The prosecution noted that Panfilov had tried to leave Singapore midway through the trial, without any permission being granted by the court. On Dec 9, 2023, he was stopped at the entrance to the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal 1, as he was trying to use his new Russian passport to pass through to board his flight. As a result, Panfilov, who was on bail up to that point, was arrested and remanded in custody. He had applied for and obtained the new passport without the knowledge of the investigating officer. Lawyer Sameer Melber, who together with Mr Manoj Nandwani now acts for Panfilov, asked for 10 years and five months' jail and six strokes of the cane. Mr Sameer said the sequence of events show there was no element of pre-meditation on the part of his client, and that the woman had ended up on Panfilov's bed of her own volition. The lawyer said his client intends to get married later this year and also intends to pursue his education in prison. During the trial, which began in May 2023, the woman and Panfilov presented different accounts of the incident. The two had matched on Tinder and later moved their chat to WhatsApp before arranging to meet in person at a restaurant in Robertson Quay. She testified that his Tinder profile stated he was either a writer or scriptwriter, and that she had hoped to get some advice on scriptwriting from him. At the restaurant, she opened her laptop and started working on her script with him. She said that after waiters came round to ask if they had any last orders, Panfilov suggested continuing working on the script at his place, and she agreed. The two went to the flat separately - Panfilov rode his motorcycle, while the woman took a Grab car. At his flat, he ushered her into his bedroom. They sat on his bed as they talked about comedic characters and watched videos of various comedians. She said she sat on his bed because the room was otherwise rather cluttered. The woman said he suddenly leaned in and kissed her on her lips, but she told him "no" and gathered her things to leave. But he sexually assaulted her and raped her on his bed, she said. On Jan 16, 2021, still in pain from the assault, she saw a doctor, who advised her to make a police report. The same day, she went to a neighbourhood police centre and spoke to several police officers but left without lodging a report. Around midnight on Jan 18, 2021, she finally told her mother what had happened. Her mother took her to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, and a police report was lodged. Panfilov did not deny that he had sex with the woman but said the encounter was consensual. He said she had made the first advances - laughing at his jokes, tapping on his leg and stroking his thigh. After they had sex, he asked for her address and booked a car on the Gojek app for her to get home. He said he later messaged her, asking if she had reached home safely, and she replied that all was good. He said he subsequently did not reply to her because her interest in morbid jokes was not in line with his sense of humour. On March 21, Justice Pang Khang Chau found the woman to be an unusually convincing witness who gave a detailed and textured account that was internally and externally consistent. The judge accepted that she had explanations for the issues raised by the defence. On the other hand, Justice Pang found that Panfilov was not a credible witness and that his testimony did not help in casting reasonable doubts on the prosecution's case. The judge said there were significant inconsistencies between what Panfilov said to police officers, what he said in his video-recorded interviews and what he said in court. He will be appealing against his conviction and sentence. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Max Maeder defends European kitefoiling crown; Ex-Wah!Banana star Lev Panfilov jailed in Tinder assault case: Singapore live news
Hello to all our readers, Yahoo Singapore will be bringing you live news updates today. The editorial team will be curating the latest must-know local and international news. In a thrilling finale at the Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Turkey, Singapore's Maximilian Maeder defended his title with two decisive race wins on Monday (19 May). Facing formidable opponents like Italy's Riccardo Pianosi, Maeder's tactical acumen and calm under pressure propelled him to the top of the podium. This victory underscores his dominance in the sport and sets the stage for future international competitions. Lev Panfilov, a Singapore TikToker and former Wah!Banana actor, was sentenced to 11½ years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for raping a woman he met on Tinder. The assault occurred in 2021 after a scriptwriting meet up turned violent in his bedroom. The victim, an aspiring comedy writer, endured a gruelling 13-day cross-examination during the trial. Panfilov's attempt to flee Singapore mid-trial fuelled the prosecution's case against his lack of remorse. Justice Pang Khang Chau praised the victim's convincing testimony while dismissing Panfilov's inconsistent defence. The case ignited public outrage, particularly over victim-shaming comments from a former Law Society official. Panfilov plans to appeal his conviction and sentence. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Singapore's kitefoiling champion, Maximilian Maeder, successfully retained his Formula Kite European Championships title in Urla, Turkey, on Monday (19 May). The 18-year-old athlete clinched victory by winning two consecutive races in the medal series, overcoming early challenges and fierce competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Int. Kiteboarding Association (@kiteclasses) Maeder's journey to the top was marked by resilience and strategic brilliance. Despite facing equipment issues and intense pressure, he maintained focus and executed flawless performances in the final races. His ability to stay composed under duress was instrumental in securing the championship. The victory adds to Maeder's impressive list of achievements, including a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and multiple international titles. His consistent excellence in the sport has solidified his reputation as a leading figure in kitefoiling. Looking ahead, Maeder's sights are set on upcoming competitions, where he aims to continue his winning streak and further elevate Singapore's presence in the global sailing community. Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old TikToker and former Wah!Banana actor, received 11½ years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Monday (19 May), for raping a woman he met on Tinder. The assault unfolded in his bedroom on 12 January 2021, after a scriptwriting session went horribly wrong. The victim, a 30-year-old aspiring comedy writer, bravely testified, earning praise from Justice Pang Khang Chau as an 'unusually convincing' witness. Panfilov's defence crumbled under inconsistencies, with the judge dismissing his claim of consensual sex. The prosecution slammed his lack of remorse, citing a 13-day cross-examination ordeal for the victim and a sneaky attempt to flee Singapore mid-trial using a new Russian passport. The high-profile case stirred public outrage, especially after victim-shaming comments from a former Law Society vice-president drew sharp criticism. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam condemned such remarks, emphasising zero tolerance for misogyny. Panfilov, now in custody, plans to appeal. The victim's ordeal began at a Robertson Quay restaurant, where she and Panfilov worked on her comedy script before heading to his flat. There, a discussion about comedians turned into a nightmare assault, leaving her in physical and emotional pain. Singapore's kitefoiling champion, Maximilian Maeder, successfully retained his Formula Kite European Championships title in Urla, Turkey, on Monday (19 May). The 18-year-old athlete clinched victory by winning two consecutive races in the medal series, overcoming early challenges and fierce competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Int. Kiteboarding Association (@kiteclasses) Maeder's journey to the top was marked by resilience and strategic brilliance. Despite facing equipment issues and intense pressure, he maintained focus and executed flawless performances in the final races. His ability to stay composed under duress was instrumental in securing the championship. The victory adds to Maeder's impressive list of achievements, including a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and multiple international titles. His consistent excellence in the sport has solidified his reputation as a leading figure in kitefoiling. Looking ahead, Maeder's sights are set on upcoming competitions, where he aims to continue his winning streak and further elevate Singapore's presence in the global sailing community. Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old TikToker and former Wah!Banana actor, received 11½ years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Monday (19 May), for raping a woman he met on Tinder. The assault unfolded in his bedroom on 12 January 2021, after a scriptwriting session went horribly wrong. The victim, a 30-year-old aspiring comedy writer, bravely testified, earning praise from Justice Pang Khang Chau as an 'unusually convincing' witness. Panfilov's defence crumbled under inconsistencies, with the judge dismissing his claim of consensual sex. The prosecution slammed his lack of remorse, citing a 13-day cross-examination ordeal for the victim and a sneaky attempt to flee Singapore mid-trial using a new Russian passport. The high-profile case stirred public outrage, especially after victim-shaming comments from a former Law Society vice-president drew sharp criticism. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam condemned such remarks, emphasising zero tolerance for misogyny. Panfilov, now in custody, plans to appeal. The victim's ordeal began at a Robertson Quay restaurant, where she and Panfilov worked on her comedy script before heading to his flat. There, a discussion about comedians turned into a nightmare assault, leaving her in physical and emotional pain.
Online Citizen
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Online Citizen
Lev Panfilov sentenced to 11.5 years' jail and caning for raping woman he met on Tinder
SINGAPORE: Lev Panfilov, a former actor and scriptwriter for the comedy channel Wah!Banana, was sentenced on 19 May 2025 to 11 years and six months in jail and 12 strokes of the cane. The 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident was convicted of two charges of rape, one of sexual assault by penetration, and one of molest. He had claimed trial to all charges. The High Court found him guilty in March. Justice Pang Khang Chau said the victim's testimony was 'unusually convincing', while Panfilov's was not credible. The judge noted inconsistencies in Panfilov's evidence, describing them as attempts to distance himself from the events in question. During sentencing, the prosecution sought 14 years' imprisonment and 16 strokes of the cane. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim argued that the harm caused to the victim was both physical and mental. He said the rape involved 'a significant degree' of physical pain and cited Panfilov's lack of remorse. Panfilov also subjected the victim to 13 days of cross-examination, which the prosecution labelled a 'marathon'. The prosecution claimed the defence repeatedly questioned the victim on matters already canvassed, prolonging the trial unnecessarily. The defence argued the offences occurred during a 'single continuous act' lasting two hours. Lawyer Sameer Melber of Gabriel Law Corporation noted that the victim had voluntarily arranged to meet Panfilov. She booked her own ride to his residence, entered his room willingly, and sat on his bed of her own volition, the defence claimed. The lawyers said there was no evidence Panfilov had coerced her into entering the room. They argued that the molestation was spontaneous and 'occurred in the heat of the moment'. The defence requested a sentence of 10 years and five months' jail with six strokes of the cane. Panfilov, a first-time offender, intends to marry later this year and continue his university studies while incarcerated. The prosecution's case stated that Panfilov sexually assaulted the victim on 12 January 2021. The two had met at a Wine Connection restaurant that day to discuss scriptwriting. The victim, a model-actress and aspiring scriptwriter, was seeking help from Panfilov. After working together at the restaurant, they moved to his home to continue. In his room, while watching comedy clips on YouTube, Panfilov kissed the victim and subsequently assaulted her. The victim did not immediately report the incident, citing fear and trauma. She later visited a doctor due to ongoing physical pain, who advised her to file a police report. She initially hesitated to lodge the report, fearing disbelief and public exposure. She finally filed the police report on 18 January 2021 after informing her mother. The defence maintained that the sexual acts were consensual and initiated by the victim. The High Court found otherwise, convicting Panfilov on all counts. The high-profile nature of the case sparked public debate after a former Law Society vice-president, Chia Boon Teck, posted comments perceived as victim-shaming. Chia questioned the victim's actions in a LinkedIn post, prompting widespread criticism. Members of the public and legal fraternity denounced his remarks, and the Law Society called for his resignation. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam condemned the remarks, stating that victim-blaming and misogyny had no place in society. Under Singapore law, rape and sexual assault by penetration carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail, with caning or a fine. Molestation is punishable with up to two years in jail, a fine, caning, or a combination of these.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Singapore-based Russian TikToker gets 11-and-a-half years' jail and caning for raping woman he met on Tinder
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A TikToker and former scriptwriter-actor with local YouTube comedy channel Wah!Banana was sentenced to 11½ years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on May 19 for raping a woman he had met on the dating app Tinder. Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident originally from Russia, was earlier found guilty by the High Court of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of outrage of modesty. The assault took place on Jan 12, 2021, in Panfilov's bedroom after he invited the woman back to the flat he shared with flatmates to work on her script. The woman, who was then 30 years old, had worked as an actress and model and was trying to branch out into comedy writing. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim sought 14 years' jail and 16 strokes of the cane. In written submissions, the prosecution said Panfilov lacked remorse, as he had prolonged his trial unnecessarily by subjecting the woman to a marathon 13 days of cross-examination. The prosecution noted that Panfilov had tried to leave Singapore midway through the trial, without any permission being granted by the court. On Dec 9, 2023, he was stopped at the entrance to the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal 1, as he was trying to use his new Russian passport to pass through to board his flight. As a result, Panfilov, who was on bail up to that point, was arrested and remanded in custody. He had applied for and obtained the new passport without the knowledge of the investigating officer. Lawyer Sameer Melber who, together with Mr Manoj Nandwani, now acts for Panfilov, asked for 10 years and five months' jail and six strokes of the cane. Sameer said the sequence of events shows there was no element of premeditation on the part of his client, and that the woman had ended up in Panfilov's bed of her own volition. The lawyer said his client intends to get married later in 2025 and also pursue his education in prison. During the trial, which began in May 2023, the woman and Panfilov presented different accounts of the incident. The two had matched on Tinder and later moved their chat to WhatsApp before arranging to meet in person at a restaurant in Robertson Quay. She testified that his Tinder profile had stated he was either a writer or scriptwriter, and that she had hoped to get some advice on scriptwriting from him. At the restaurant, she opened her laptop and started working on her script with him. She said that after waiters came round to ask if they had any last orders, Panfilov suggested continuing working on the script at his place, and she agreed. The two went to the flat separately – Panfilov rode his motorcycle, while the woman took a Grab car. At his flat, he ushered her into his bedroom. They sat on his bed as they talked about comedic characters and watched videos of various comedians. She said she sat on his bed because the room was otherwise rather cluttered. The woman said he suddenly leaned in and kissed her on her lips, but she told him 'no' and gathered her things to leave. But he sexually assaulted her and raped her on his bed, she said. On Jan 16, 2021, still in pain from the assault, she saw a doctor, who advised her to make a police report. The same day, she went to a neighbourhood police centre and spoke to several police officers but left without lodging a report. Around midnight on Jan 18, 2021, she finally told her mother what had happened. Her mother took her to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, and a police report was lodged. Panfilov did not deny that he had sex with the woman but said the encounter was consensual. He said she had made the first advances – laughing at his jokes, tapping on his leg and stroking his thigh. After they had sex, he asked for her address and booked a car on the Gojek app for her to get home. He said he later messaged her, asking if she had reached home safely, and she replied that all was good. He said he subsequently did not reply to her because her interest in morbid jokes was not in line with his sense of humour. On March 21, Justice Pang Khang Chau found the woman to be an unusually convincing witness who gave a detailed and textured account that was internally and externally consistent. The judge accepted that she had explanations for the issues raised by the defence. On the other hand, Justice Pang found that Panfilov was not a credible witness and that his testimony did not help in casting reasonable doubts on the prosecution's case. The judge said there were significant inconsistencies between what Panfilov said to police officers, what he said in his video-recorded interviews and what he said in court. He will be appealing against his conviction and sentence. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Straits Times
S'pore-based TikToker gets 11½ years' jail and caning for raping woman he met on Tinder
Lev Panfilov was earlier found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of outrage of modesty. PHOTO: ST FILE S'pore-based TikToker gets 11½ years' jail and caning for raping woman he met on Tinder SINGAPORE - A TikToker and former scriptwriter-actor with local YouTube comedy channel Wah!Banana was sentenced to 11½ years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on May 19 for raping a woman he had met on the dating app Tinder. Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident originally from Russia, was earlier found guilty by the High Court of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of outrage of modesty. The assault took place on Jan 12, 2021, in Panfilov's bedroom after he invited the woman back to the flat he shared with flatmates to work on her script. The woman, who was then 30 years old, had worked as an actress and model and was trying to branch out into comedy writing. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim sought 14 years' jail and 16 strokes of the cane. In written submissions, the prosecution said Panfilov lacked remorse, as he had prolonged his trial unnecessarily by subjecting the woman to a marathon 13 days of cross-examination. The prosecution noted that Panfilov had tried to leave Singapore midway through trial, without any permission being granted by the court. On Dec 9, 2023, he was stopped at the entrance to the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal 1, as he was trying to use his new Russian passport to pass through to board his flight. As a result, Panfilov, who was on bail up to that point, was arrested and remanded in custody. He had applied for and obtained the new passport without the knowledge of the investigating officer. Lawyer Sameer Melber, who together with Mr Manoj Nandwani now acts for Panfilov, asked for 10 years and five months' jail and six strokes of the cane. Mr Sameer said the sequence of events show there was no element of pre-meditation on the part of his client, and that the woman had ended up on Panfilov's bed of her own volition. The lawyer said his client intends to get married later this year and also intends to pursue his education in prison. During the trial, which began in May 2023, the woman and Panfilov presented different accounts of the incident. The two had matched on Tinder and later moved their chat to WhatsApp before arranging to meet in person at a restaurant in Robertson Quay. She testified that his Tinder profile stated he was either a writer or scriptwriter, and that she had hoped to get some advice on scriptwriting from him. At the restaurant, she opened her laptop and started working on her script with him. She said that after waiters came round to ask if they had any last orders, Panfilov suggested continuing working on the script at his place, and she agreed. The two went to the flat separately - Panfilov rode his motorcycle, while the woman took a Grab car. At his flat, he ushered her into his bedroom. They sat on his bed as they talked about comedic characters and watched videos of various comedians. She said she sat on his bed because the room was otherwise rather cluttered. The woman said he suddenly leaned in and kissed her on her lips, but she told him 'no' and gathered her things to leave. But he sexually assaulted her and raped her on his bed, she said. On Jan 16, 2021, still in pain from the assault, she saw a doctor, who advised her to make a police report. The same day, she went to a neighbourhood police centre and spoke to several police officers but left without lodging a report. Around midnight on Jan 18, 2021, she finally told her mother what had happened. Her mother took her to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, and a police report was lodged. Panfilov did not deny that he had sex with the woman but said the encounter was consensual. He said she had made the first advances – laughing at his jokes, tapping on his leg and stroking his thigh. After they had sex, he asked for her address and booked a car on the Gojek app for her to get home. He said he later messaged her, asking if she had reached home safely, and she replied that all was good. He said he subsequently did not reply to her because her interest in morbid jokes was not in line with his sense of humour. On March 21, Justice Pang Khang Chau found the woman to be an unusually convincing witness who gave a detailed and textured account that was internally and externally consistent. The judge accepted that she had explanations for the issues raised by the defence. On the other hand, Justice Pang found that Panfilov was not a credible witness and that his testimony did not help in casting reasonable doubts on the prosecution's case. The judge said there were significant inconsistencies between what Panfilov said to police officers, what he said in his video-recorded interviews and what he said in court. He will be appealing against his conviction and sentence. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
