TikToker Gets 11 1/2 Years' Jail, Caning for Raping Woman He Met on Tinder

A TikToker and former scriptwriter-actor with local YouTube comedy channel Wah! Banana was sentenced to 11 1/2 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on May 19 for raping a woman he had met on the dating app Tinder.

- Selina Lum

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.

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.