ICA reviewing PR statuses of actors Ian Fang and Lev Panfilov after sexual offence convictions

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is reviewing the permanent residence (PR) statuses of actors Ian Fang and Lev Panfilov after both men were recently convicted of serious sexual offences.

In a statement issued on 21 May in response to media queries, ICA confirmed that reviews are automatically conducted when a permanent resident is convicted of a crime.

“As the review of the PR statuses for Ian Fang and Lev Panfilov is ongoing, we are unable to share more details at this juncture,” a spokesperson said, as reported by CNA.

Former actor Ian Fang sentenced for sexual offences against minor

Fang Wei Jie, better known by his stage name Ian Fang, was sentenced on 19 May to 40 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual penetration of a minor under 16.

Three other similar charges, along with one count each of obstruction of justice and stalking, were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The 35-year-old Shanghai-born actor, who was educated in Singapore, had been working as an acting teacher at a child modelling school.

Court documents revealed that Fang met his 15-year-old victim at an entertainment event in 2024. A gag order is in place to protect her identity.

Prosecutors highlighted that Fang had exploited his position of authority and trust in his interactions with the victim.

The maximum sentence for his offences could have been 10 years’ jail, a fine, or both. He did not face caning as part of his punishment.

Lev Panfilov convicted of rape and sexual assault

In a separate case, Russian national and former Wah!Banana actor Lev Panfilov, 29, was sentenced on 20 May to 11 years and six months’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane.

He was found guilty of raping, sexually assaulting, and molesting a woman he met on Tinder.

The victim, whose identity is also protected under a gag order, testified during trial that she had tried to resist Panfilov’s advances but was overpowered.

Panfilov has since filed an appeal against both his conviction and sentence.

Public backlash over victim-blaming comments

The high-profile case involving Panfilov drew additional attention after former Law Society vice-president Chia Boon Teck made remarks on LinkedIn that were widely criticised as victim-shaming.

Chia questioned the victim’s conduct, suggesting that she bore some responsibility for the assault.

His comments sparked outrage among members of the public and the legal fraternity. The Law Society of Singapore called for his resignation, while Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam condemned the remarks, saying:

“Victim-blaming and misogyny have no place in our society.”

Chia has since resigned from the Law Society council.

Possible consequences for PR status

While ICA has not disclosed timelines or possible outcomes of the ongoing reviews, legal experts note that convictions for serious offences often weigh heavily against permanent residents seeking to retain their status.

Under Singapore law, PRs convicted of crimes may face revocation of their status and possible deportation after serving their sentences.

Both Fang and Panfilov’s cases are under review, and ICA said updates will be provided once decisions are made.