Actor Ian Fang sentenced to 40 months’ jail for sexual assault against 15-year-old girl

Former Mediacorp actor Ian Fang appeared in the State Courts today (May 19) and pleaded guilty to multiple charges including sexual offences with a minor and harassment.

The 35-year-old, dressed in a black T-shirt, face mask and wired-rimmed glasses, was solemn as his charges were read to him.

His identity couldn’t be revealed previously because of the gag order to protect the identity of the victim. It was, however, lifted in court today by District Judge Eddy Tham after an application by the victim and her family.

Ian’s lawyer defended that lifting the court order on his identity could lead to the identification of the victim as at least 30 people have seen them together in public events and while the victim had stated that she is “emotionally stronger” to face being identified, nobody would know how strong she would need to be to take the consequences.

However, the prosecution countered that the case is not about the small group of people and steps have been taken to make sure the victim is not identified.

District Judge Tham concluded that there is a difference between protection for the victim and “open justice”. As such, he would consider the wishes of the victim and her family to reveal only Ian’s identity.

The court also heard that Ian first met the victim at an entertainment event in May 2024 when she was 15 years old and they exchanged contact details, and they subsequently contacted each other frequently.

Between June and July, they engaged in sexual activities, including oral and penetrative sex, on nine occasions at his residence, a luxury hotel and a private hospital in Singapore. He had unprotected sex with her five times among the nine occasions, and only used a condom when she insisted.

At the time of the offence, Ian was an acting teacher with a modelling school for children aged four to 14.

Ian was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment and is out on $30,000 bail.

He has been ordered to surrender to the courts on June 16, 2025, to begin serving his sentence.

After 12 years with Mediacorp, he left the broadcaster in April 2023.

This is a developing story.