Minister Condemns Senior Lawyer’s Remarks on High-Profile Rape Case

“Singapore’s Minister for Law, K Shanmugam, has strongly criticised comments made by senior lawyer Chia Boon Teck regarding the recent conviction of former Wah!Banana actor Lev Panfilov for rape and sexual assault.

Chia, who serves as vice president of the Law Society of Singapore, questioned the victim’s testimony in a now-deleted LinkedIn post. His remarks, which included scepticism about the victim’s claims and implications that she should have expected the situation, sparked outrage online and from advocacy groups.

Shanmugam expressed deep concern over Chia’s statements, warning that they could discourage victims from coming forward. He stressed that such views must not be mistaken as representative of societal norms in Singapore, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting survivors of sexual assault.

Panfilov was convicted on 21 March of multiple offences, including rape, after a court found the victim’s testimony credible. The case detailed how he met the woman via a dating app before luring her to his condominium under the pretext of helping her with a script. Prosecutors argued that he then assaulted her despite her repeated protests.

The Law Society of Singapore has distanced itself from Chia’s comments, stating that his views do not reflect those of the organisation. The matter is currently under review.

Women’s rights groups, including AWARE, have condemned Chia’s remarks, calling them not only offensive but also harmful to survivors of sexual violence.

Shanmugam concluded his statement by reaffirming that victim-blaming has no place in society, adding that legal professionals, particularly those in leadership positions, must be mindful of their influence when making public statements.”