Johannes Hadi acted as lead counsel before the Court of Appeal on 13 August 2026 in Lev Panfilov v Public Prosecutor. Johannes was assisted by Seraphine Loh.
The appeal concerns a former Wah! Banana actor, Mr Panfilov’s challenge against his 2025 conviction and sentence. The appeal was heard before Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justice Ang Cheng Hock and Justice Sushil Nair, who reserved judgment.
Appearing for the appellant, Mr Hadi submitted that the complainant’s evidence contained material inconsistencies. On the disputed question of whether she had screamed, he told the Court: “Our theory as to why there is an inconsistency about why she said she screamed and why she recanted it later during the trial is because she knew there were others in the flat at night.”
On the complainant’s request for a medical memo, Mr Hadi submitted that “this is not a minor detail”, adding that “asking for a memo was the predominant reason for her visit to the doctor.”
The Prosecution responded that any discrepancy in the complainant’s account was a matter of the “victim [having] misspoke”, and that its position was that there had been a misunderstanding.
Members of the Court raised questions on both sides. On the complainant’s composure captured on CCTV after the incident, the Court observed that “if you’ve been through that and you’re not dishevelled, one would expect an explanation”. Justice Ang described the cross-examination on why the complainant did not leave the apartment as “very, very arduous”.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
Media coverage
Channel NewsAsia – Former Wah!Banana actor Lev Panfilov appeals rape conviction
See also
Criminal defence representation
Johannes Hadi
Director
Seraphine Loh
Associate