Romanian diplomat held

[Blackseal]

Sat, May 08, 2010

AFP

 

 

 

BUCHAREST, Romania - A Romanian diplomat involved in a fatal hit-and-run case in Singapore was detained for questioning on Friday, Romanian prosecutors said.

 

Silviu Ionescu, who was Bucharest's charge d'affaires in Singapore at the time, is alleged to have hit three pedestrians in two incidents in December while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.

 

One of the victims, a 30-year-old Malaysian national, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day, while the two others suffered injuries.

 

 

The diplomat, who flew back to Romania days after the accident, "has tried to influence witnesses' depositions and asked an employee to erase data in his computer," prosecutors said.

 

Ionescu was taken in for questioning for six hours on Friday by prosecutors who are seeking a 29-day detention warrant against him.

 

Judges have 24 hours to approve the diplomat's detention or release him.

 

Ionescu has publicly denied he was the driver, claiming the car was stolen.

 

In interviews to Romanian media, he alleged he was "a victim of a conspiracy by Singapore authorities."

 

Last month, Singapore issued an arrest warrant after a coroner's court ruled that Ionescu was driving the car involved in the accident.

 

Singapore's foreign ministry said the Romanian government had the moral obligation to persuade Ionescu to return to face the charges. There is no extradition treaty between the two countries.

 

"The Romanian government must in its own interests ensure that justice was served and seen to be served," a spokesman said in a statement.

 

"Otherwise, there would inevitably be consequences for bilateral relations."

 

 

 

[Chewbacca]

Ru-roh!

 

I hope this goes somewhere.

 

[Hamburger]

fried cold rice..............

[Verve]

not many europeans are familiar with asia, not even singapore

 

my ex coy paris colleagues thought we are a 3rd world country.

 

dont think the romanians will give a damn about a speck in asia.

[GoodCar]

clap hand!, clap hand!

 

 

[Genie47]

I met Mid-West Americans who are surprised to see me having "advanced technology" CEPAS cards for MRT, cash payment and NG smartphone.

 

They think we are in some 3rd world boondocks.

 

When I told them Malaysia got monorail and the Petronas twin towers, they are amazed thinking that Malaysia is only palm oil plantations selling this evil stuff to clog their arteries.

[Duke]

One of the worst thing that I ever hear from an American fren when I told them I'm from Singapore.

 

Her reply is " So which part of China is that?"

[Swingarm]

becos so many chinese here mah.....

[Yuan]

I met Mid-West Americans who are surprised to see me having "advanced technology" CEPAS cards for MRT, cash payment and NG smartphone.

 

They think we are in some 3rd world boondocks.

 

When I told them Malaysia got monorail and the Petronas twin towers, they are amazed thinking that Malaysia is only palm oil plantations selling this evil stuff to clog their arteries.

 

I face similar experiences too with some Americans.....

[Albeniz]

One of the worst thing that I ever hear from an American fren when I told them I'm from Singapore.

 

Her reply is " So which part of China is that?"

 

The answer is "southern part".

[Albeniz]

I face similar experiences too with some Americans.....

 

Not all Americans are well-travelled. Some have never travelled out of their country before.

 

[Gobbler]

haha... are they living in the well or are they in stone age ...

 

Not all Americans are well-travelled. Some have never travelled out of their country before.

 

[Spidercool]

When I was studying in Australia....got ppls ask where is S'pore....OMG

 

[Genie47]

All this feedback confirms only one thing.

 

We are nothing but an insignificant red dot.

 

SO WAKE UP YOUR BLOODY IDEAS EVERYONE!

 

SG is not the centre of the world.

[Kilatz]

An American whom i met in Germany remarked that I speak good English... for a 'Singaporetian'. Same typical ignorant American who thinks US is the utmost land of the brave and free. He got confused when he realised that i'm quad lingual and has just mentioned his father's wife in 4 different sentences

[Shull]

Not all Americans are well-travelled. Some have never travelled out of their country before.

 

don't feel bad, cos some don't even know where is Australia..so can't blame them..some don't even know where is their country on the map..

[Kelpie]

Not all Americans are well-travelled. Some have never travelled out of their country before.

 

70% of Americans have never travelled out of their country. They are in a big well.

 

Regards,

 

[Ysc3]

Not all Americans are well-travelled. Some have never travelled out of their country before.

 

dun talk abt being "well-travelled" ... i still remember a few year back there was this special edition of Candid Camera(USA production) when the host went to various parts of USA and shockingly, they showed clips of americans who did not even know who was their own President !! or even much abt their nearest neighbor, Canada !!