Lev Panfilov says ‘ghosting’ may have been a factor in rape allegation after Court of Appeal drops charges

Ex-Wah!Banana cast Lev Panfilov cleared of 11.5 years’ jail and 12 strokes of cane after winning appeal against rape charge

Former Wah! Banana actor and TikToker Lev Panfilov has said that “ghosting” may have been one of the factors behind a woman’s decision to make a rape complaint against him.

Speaking to MS News, Panfilov said there could have been “various reasons” behind her decision to report him after they had sex in 2021.

His comments came after the Court of Appeal acquitted him of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of molestation on 2 Sept.

The court found that inconsistencies in the complainant’s evidence, taken collectively, raised reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.

Panfilov had previously been convicted by the High Court and sentenced to 11.5 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane in May 2025.

‘Ghosting’ could have been a factor

Panfilov was asked by MS News about tip-offs that the woman had allegedly continued contacting him after their encounter and that he subsequently stopped responding to her.

He was also asked whether he believed this could have contributed to her decision to report him.

“Yeah. The ghosting thing could be one of the factors affecting her decision at the time,” he told MS News.

“But there could be various reasons that made her want to do it.”

Panfilov did not elaborate on what those other possible reasons might have been.

His comments should be understood as his own account of the circumstances and not as a finding by the court.

Court of Appeal acquits Panfilov after reviewing evidence

According to The Straits Times, Panfilov and the woman had met on Tinder before meeting in person at a restaurant in Robertson Quay on 12 Jan 2021.

They later went to Panfilov’s home to work on a script.

Panfilov acknowledged that they had sex but maintained that it was consensual.

The woman gave a different account, alleging that Panfilov had sexually assaulted her.

Panfilov was convicted by the High Court in March 2025 and sentenced to 11.5 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane in May that year, CNA reported.

He subsequently appealed against his conviction.

During the appeal hearing on 13 Aug, his lawyers argued that there were material inconsistencies in the woman’s evidence.

The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment at the end of the hearing.

On 2 Sept, according to CNA, the three-judge court overturned his convictions and acquitted him of all four charges.

Justice Sushil Nair said several inconsistencies in the complainant’s testimony, viewed collectively, gave rise to reasonable doubt.

The court also found unresolved questions surrounding the only physical evidence relied on by the prosecution — a pair of blood-stained underwear.

Court noted discrepancy over whether she screamed

One issue highlighted during the appeal concerned whether the woman had screamed during the alleged assault.

She had told a doctor that she screamed, according to the doctor’s contemporaneous notes, CNA reported.

However, she later testified in court that she had wanted to scream but did not.

The defence argued that this was significant because at least one of Panfilov’s flatmates was present in the home at the time.

During the appeal hearing, the judges questioned how the two accounts could be reconciled.

The prosecution accepted that the doctor’s notes were likely accurate, but submitted that the woman may have misspoken or that there had been a misunderstanding.

The Court of Appeal subsequently found the discrepancy material.

Court also considered blood-stained underwear and CCTV

The judges also examined the circumstances surrounding a pair of blood-stained underwear.

The underwear was retrieved from the woman’s laundry basket several days after the incident.

The court noted that she had started her period two days after the alleged assault. Furthermore, there was no evidence establishing that the blood on the underwear did not come from menstruation.

The examining doctor had also not found an injury that would have accounted for the amount of blood found on the underwear, the court said.

The judges therefore found reasonable doubt over whether the underwear was physical evidence of the alleged assault.

The court also considered CCTV footage of the woman in the lift lobby of Panfilov’s apartment shortly after the incident, ST said.

The defence highlighted that she did not appear visibly dishevelled in the footage.

The Court of Appeal said this was relevant physical evidence to be considered alongside her account of the alleged assault.

The court nevertheless acknowledged that victims can react differently to sexual assault.

Panfilov: ‘It feels great’ after acquittal

Following the Court of Appeal’s decision, Panfilov told MS News that “it feels great to enjoy life at its fullest once again”.

The Court of Appeal’s decision means Panfilov was acquitted of all four charges.

The court also granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal for an outstanding charge of obstruction of justice and dismissed the prosecution’s separate appeal against his sentence.