Accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl under 16, resulting in her contracting a virus, and instructing her to plead with her mother not to prosecute him, former Singaporean TV actor Fang Wei Jie has been sentenced to 40 months in prison.
The highly publicized case was heard in the State Courts on Monday (19th). Wearing a black top and a black mask, Fang Wei Jie (formerly known as Fang Weijie, 35) appeared in court accompanied by a male friend.
According to earlier reports, the locations where the girl was sexually assaulted included Fang Wei Jie's home, a hotel, and a hospital.
Fang Wei Jie was charged with six counts of sexual assault on an underage girl, one count of violating the Protection from Harassment Act, and one count of obstruction of justice.
According to the charge sheet, Fang Wei Jie allegedly engaged in sexual relations at least six times with a 15-year-old girl in June 2024, at locations including the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Elizabeth Novena Hospital, and his residence.
In August 2024, Fang Wei Jie was alleged to have instructed the girl to cry in front of her mother, telling her that she did not want Fang to go to jail or be prosecuted, intending to obstruct justice.
Fang Wei Jie was also alleged to have harassed the girl multiple times in September 2024, including calling her 18 times in a single day, sending text messages, and logging into her virtual room on the karaoke platform 全民K歌.
Fang Wei Jie and the girl were in a romantic relationship at the time of the incident.
The case details revealed that during the criminal acts, Fang Wei Jie engaged in sexual activities with the victim multiple times without taking protective measures, resulting in her contracting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) afterwards.
Originating from China, Permanent Resident in Singapore
According to reports from 8world, Fang Wei Jie's former stage name was Fang Weijie (English name: Ian Fang), originally from China, and he is currently a permanent resident in Singapore. He was born in Shanghai, China, moved to Singapore in 2001, joined Mediacorp in 2009, and officially debuted by acting in the TV series "C.L.I.F" in 2011, becoming one of the "Eight Dukes of Mediacorp."
Throughout his 12-year career in television, Fang Wei Jie appeared in several TV series, including "Joys of Life," "The Dream Makers," and "Tiger Mum," winning awards such as the "Best Newcomer Award" and "Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes" at the Star Awards, and was also nominated for "Best Supporting Actor," his career looking very promising.
In April 2023, he announced that his contract with Mediacorp had expired, and he decided not to renew it, transitioning to a freelance artist. After leaving, Fang Wei Jie launched short online video programs "Xiao Fang Visits You" and "Xiao Fang Takes on Challenges," and began working as an acting coach.