35-year-old former Mediacorp actor Ian Fang was sentenced to 40 months’ jail on May 19 for repeatedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a girl under 16, causing her to contract a virus. He also told the girl to cry and beg her mother not to press charges.
According to the charges, Fang committed the offences around June 2024, engaging in sexual acts with the 15-year-old girl at least six times. The incidents took place at Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, and his residence. In August 2024, Fang instructed the girl to cry in front of her mother and say she didn’t want him jailed or charged, in an attempt to obstruct justice.
Additionally, Fang was accused of harassing the girl multiple times in September 2024, including calling her 18 times in one day, sending her messages, and entering her virtual room on the singing platform Quan Min K Ge.
Fang and the girl were in a romantic relationship at the time. The case came to light in January this year. To protect the girl’s identity, the court initially prohibited the media from publishing Fang’s name. On May 19, the court lifted the ban on revealing his identity, but the victim’s identity remains protected.
Court documents revealed that Fang had unprotected sex with the victim on multiple occasions, resulting in her contracting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Instagram Account Deleted
Ian Fang debuted in 2011 with the drama “C.L.I.F.” and rose to fame with “On the Fringe” the same year. He won Best Newcomer at the Star Awards two years later and was one of Mediacorp’s “8 Dukes.” He also starred in dramas such as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “The Dream Makers,” and “Tiger Mum.”
In 2019, a leaked flirtatious chat with actress Carrie Wong damaged his public image. After acting in “CTRL” in 2022, he appeared less frequently on screen. He left Mediacorp in April 2023 after 12 years and moved into teaching, becoming a children’s acting coach at First Model Academy. He continued appearing at brand events, and in 2024, endorsed a bubble tea brand and remained active on social media.
He was nominated for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes at the 2024 Star Awards and attended the April ceremony. This year, he acted in a microfilm music video for local artist Jarrell Ng and joined other celebrities like Elvin Ng in a charity football match in April. Even after news of the case broke in January, he continued updating his Instagram. His last post, made three weeks ago, was a fashion sponsorship photo. But as of around 11:40 a.m. on May 19, his Instagram account had been deleted.
His last Facebook post was on February 11, where he shared a video of Cristiano Ronaldo. Until November 30, 2024, he frequently posted self-produced content like “Xiao Fang Takes on Challenges” and “Xiao Fang Goes to Your House,” and had invited influencer Simonboy as a guest.
Marcus Chin: Reflect and Start Over
Chairman of the Singapore Artistes Association, Marcus Chin, told Lianhe Zaobao he was shocked to see Fang’s name in the news. He said he had just met him at a banquet last month and noticed nothing unusual.
Chin acknowledged Fang’s guilty plea. “When it involves a minor, it’s very serious. I see it as taking responsibility. Everyone makes mistakes when young, it’s just a matter of severity.”
He encouraged Fang not to give up. “If you’ve done wrong, reflect while in jail. Make use of the 40 months to learn, and start afresh after release. Whether you remain in Singapore or return to China, don’t give up. Once you think it’s over, you lose your fighting spirit.”
As for returning to showbiz, Chin felt it would be difficult. “You can still make a living outside entertainment. I encourage him to return to China or find a new industry. If he stays in Singapore, it may take a long time before people forget this incident.”
