Victim’s Mother Demands Caning for Ian Fang, Plans to ‘Sue Him Until He’s Bankrupt’

On 27 May 2025, former Mediacorp actor Ian Fang received a 40-month jail sentence for having sex with an underage girl.

The victim’s mother spoke exclusively with 8World News in a five-hour anonymous interview, expressing complete dissatisfaction with the court’s decision.

Fang had sex with the teenager on nine occasions between June and July 2024, mostly unprotected.

She eventually contracted human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted disease.

The mother filed a police report on 4 Aug 2024. She immediately requested that authorities expose Fang’s identity to protect other potential victims.

Mother Demands Harsher Punishment Including Caning for Former Actor

Fang was charged under Section 376A(2)(b) of the Penal Code. The maximum punishment is imprisonment up to ten years or a fine, or both. Caning is not included in this provision.

The victim’s mother learned from lawyer friends that this charge means no sexual exploitation occurred during the crime. News reports quoted legal experts saying the girl was considered “consenting” because she was over 15 at the time.

She completely rejects this interpretation. “My daughter and Fang Wei Jie have a significant age gap. She always saw him as a teacher,” the mother said. “He used his celebrity status to trick her into bed. The first time, he brought alcohol to the hotel to find my sick child.”

After the assault, Fang told the girl not to tell her parents. He said he would go to jail if she spoke out. The mother believes he knew his actions were illegal.

“The judge said Fang Wei Jie’s behaviour was deplorable, that he took advantage of my daughter, and had ulterior motives every time they met. How is this not exploitation? I really cannot accept it. He threatened and coerced my child.”

The mother expressed strong views about the sentence. “I am very, very dissatisfied. He definitely should be caned. Why wasn’t he caned? If he was beaten, there would be a permanent mark on his buttocks. This way, he cannot go out and deceive others because he was beaten. Now he hasn’t been beaten, has no caning marks, so he can easily deceive others.”

Lawyers explained that Fang was not caned as the victim was 15 at the time of the offences. The verdict might have been different if she had been below 14, as he would have been charged for rape.

Under Section 375 of the Penal Code, those convicted of rape could be jailed for between eight and 20 years, and receive at least 12 strokes of the cane.

Conversely, if she had been above 16 — the age of consent in Singapore — Fang might not have been charged at all.

Civil Lawsuit Planned to Sue Actor “Until He’s Bankrupt”

The mother has decided to pursue civil litigation against Fang through a lawyer. She has already engaged a lawyer for the civil lawsuit proceedings.

“He ruined my child’s entire life. He infected my child with a disease. My daughter’s first time should have been with a man who truly loved her, not with such a scumbag, such trash, such a beast, such a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”

“With civil litigation, we can only sue him for compensation, but what we want is not how much money he pays. I want to sue him until he’s bankrupt.”

The mother emphasised that any compensation received will be donated entirely to charity. The family will not touch a single cent from Fang.

She questioned procedural issues during the investigation. After filing the police report, the daughter was called to give her statement. The mother was blocked from accompanying her underage child during the interview.

She questioned why parents cannot accompany minors during such serious cases. As the victim’s mother, she strongly hopes Fang will receive caning and wants authorities to review the case.

The mother also said she failed to understand why there initially was a gag order on Fang’s identity. “I think he’s a media public figure. I don’t know if there are more victims. If we don’t expose him, there might be other victims – not just young children, but even adult women.”