Singapore-based TikToker Lev Panfilov acquitted of rape charges after Court of Appeal finds inconsistencies in woman's testimony
Former Wah!Banana scriptwriter-actor and TikToker Lev Panfilov was acquitted of all charges on Wednesday (Sept 2) after the Court of Appeal overturned his 2025 conviction.The 30-year-old Singapore permanent resident was initially sentenced to 11½ years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane in May 2025, after being convicted of two rape charges, a sexual assault charge and one count of outrage of modesty. Panfilov, who is originally from Russia, was accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman he had met on Tinder at his condominium unit on Jan 12, 2021.The woman, who was 30 years old at the time, met with Panfilov in person at a restaurant in Robertson Quay, after matching on the dating app.She said that she wanted his advice on scriptwriting and agreed to continue working on the script at his home.The pair later went to Panfilov's condominium unit, where the woman alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted her. Panfilov did not dispute that the sexual acts took place but maintained throughout the proceedings that the encounter was consensual.