16-5-2023 (Singapore) Lev Panfilov, a former actor and scriptwriter at Youtube comedy channel Wah!Banana, appeared in court on Tuesday (May 16) to face charges of molesting, sexually assaulting, and raping a woman he met on the dating app Tinder.
The 27-year-old Singapore permanent resident, originally from Russia, is accused of raping a woman, who was 30 at the time, in his bedroom after meeting her at a restaurant to discuss her script.
Panfilov pleaded not guilty to four charges of molestation, sexual assault, and rape during his trial.
According to the prosecution’s case, the woman had been using Tinder to expand her social circle and meet new people when she came across Panfilov’s profile. Intrigued by his claim of being a scriptwriter, she decided to match with him, hoping to receive advice and feedback on her own script.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana explained that the woman believed Panfilov could provide guidance, so they engaged in conversations on Tinder and WhatsApp before arranging their first meeting. On January 12, 2021, they met at Wine Connection in Robertson Quay.
Over dinner, they discussed her script while enjoying their meal. As the restaurant neared closing time at around 10 PM, Panfilov suggested they continue working on the script at his condominium unit.
According to the prosecution, the woman agreed, and they proceeded to Panfilov’s shared unit where they watched YouTube videos of comedians, discussed comedic principles, and continued working on her script in his bedroom.
“However, after some time had passed, the accused revealed his true intentions, shedding the facade of civility he had presented throughout the evening,” said Ms. Boppana.
Allegedly, Panfilov forcefully kissed the victim and proceeded to molest, sexually assault, and rape her, despite her repeated pleas for him to stop and her clear lack of consent.
Following the assault, Panfilov allowed the woman to leave and arranged a private hire vehicle for her to return home.
In the days that followed, the woman experienced physical pain in her lower abdominal region and sought medical treatment. She struggled with the decision to report the incident but eventually did so after her mother found her crying in her room on January 18, 2021. The matter was promptly reported to the police.
The prosecution, consisting of Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana, Mr. Sheldon Lim, and Mr. David Khoo, intends to call 14 witnesses to support their case against Panfilov.
Panfilov, whose LinkedIn profile indicates he worked at Wah!Banana from May 2020 to May 2021, is represented by lawyers Anil Balchandani and Ashwin Ganapathy.
The trial began with the testimony of an investigation officer who described his interactions with Panfilov and the collection of his underwear and bedding as evidence.
The trial is ongoing.
If convicted of rape, Panfilov could face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, along with fines or caning. The penalties for sexual assault by penetration are the same as those for rape. If found guilty of molestation, he could be sentenced to up to two years in jail, fined, caned, or receive a combination of these punishments.
