S'pore Court of Appeal reserves judgement for former Wah!Banana actor's jail sentence over rape conviction

The Court of Appeal in Singapore has reserved its judgment regarding a former actor’s jail sentence for rape. Lev Panfilov, a 30-year-old Russian national and Singapore permanent resident, was originally sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, along with 12 strokes of the cane, for allegedly raping a woman he met on Tinder. The assault took place in his flat on January 12, 2021. The Court of Appeal has decided to take more time to review the evidence before issuing a final ruling.

During the appeal, the defense argued that the alleged victim's account contained material inconsistencies and that her evidence had been fabricated. They pointed out discrepancies in her account, such as whether she screamed during the assault and whether she had screamed at all. The defense also highlighted inconsistencies in the woman's statements to a doctor, police, and in court. However, the prosecution maintained that the victim's testimony was consistent and met the legal standard required for a conviction.

The key issue in the case was the consent of the sexual encounter. The prosecution argued that the lack of witnesses made it crucial to determine whether the alleged assault was consensual or not. The Court of Appeal acknowledged that while there were inconsistencies in the victim's account, there were also inconsistencies in the doctor's notes that could have led to misunderstanding.

The defense further argued that the bloodied underwear found at the victim's home could be explained by her menstrual cycle, which began two days after the alleged assault, rather than evidence of the rape. The prosecution accepted that the doctor's notes were likely accurate but acknowledged the possibility of a misunderstanding.

The case also raised concerns about the victim's behavior following the alleged assault. She had initially told police there was no evidence of rape and later produced the bloodied underwear. The defense questioned the significance of this action and the impact it may have had on her credibility.

The Court of Appeal will now consider the evidence once more before delivering its final judgment on Panfilov's appeal.