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Singapore Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story Nov 5, 2010 MFA regrets release MFA expressed regret on the Romanian court's decision to release former diplomat Silviu Ionescu (centre) from judicial supervision. -- PHOTO: AFP THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday expressed regret on the Romanian court's decision to release former diplomat Silviu Ionescu from judicial supervision. Said an MFA spokesman, in response to media queries: 'We have to respect the Court's decision but understand that the Romanian Prosecutors' Office is appealing against the decision. 'In any case, this does not mean that he will not stand trial. We will continue to monitor the situation and expect the Romanian authorities to honour their assurances that justice will be served.' A Romanian court in Bucharest on Thursday granted Ionescu's request to be released from detention,which means he would be freed by Saturday for the duration of the trial - if the prosecutors do not appeal file an appeal within 24 hours, said his lawyer Nelu Tasca. The 50-year-old former charge d'affaires is accused of hitting three pedestrians in a hit-and-run accident in Bukit Panjang on Dec 15 last year. One of them, assistant manager Tong Kok Wai, 30, a Malaysian, died. Ionescu's lawyer had previously argued that the prosecution did not have any evidence to pinpoint his whereabouts at the scene of the accident, so his client should be released and tried as a free man. The former diplomat had also said he was his family's sole breadwinner. Ionescu faces charges of culpable homicide, causing personal injury, making false statements and leaving the scene of an accident. The trial had started last month, during which the former diplomat had maintained his innocence. Ionescu has repeatedly denied being behind the wheel of the Romanian Embassy car that had knocked down the three men, and insisted that it was stolen. The next hearing of Ionescu's trial has been set for Nov 17.

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC10...ried-in-Romania SINGAPORE - Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, who is wanted by the Singapore authorities for two hit-and-run accidents here last December, will be tried in his own country. Romania's General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) said Ionescu, who was arrested by the Romanian authorities in May, has been indicted for homicide. He is also accused of causing physical injuries and making false statements. The date of his trial has not been set and he will remain in custody until then, wire news agency AFP quoted a Romaninan GPO statement as saying. Ionescu, 50, is alleged to have hit three pedestrians in two incidents in December while driving a car belonging to the Romanian Embassy in Singapore. He was then Romania's Charge d'Affaires. One of the victims, a Malaysian, died on Christmas Day while two others suffered injuries. Ionescu, who flew to Romania days after the accident, "did not stop to let pedestrians cross like they were allowed to do by a green light", AFP quoted Romanian prosecutors as saying. "He left the scene of the first crash and drove on to the following crossroad where he again did not stop by a pedestrian crossing and caused another accident," added the prosecutors in Bucharest. Ionescu has publicly denied he was the driver, claiming the car was stolen. According to Romanian prosecutors, the claim "does not conform to reality", reported AFP. In Singapore, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday: "We welcome the announcement by the Romanian Prosecutor's Office that Mr Ionescu will be charged with, among other things, homicide and that he will remain in custody pending trial. It is an important step forward in ensuring that justice is served." ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY S RAMESH Oh, b-------t.

By Teh Joo Lin ROMANIA sent Singapore a diplomatic note last Friday asserting that former charge d'affaires Silviu Ionescu continues to enjoy diplomatic immunity for the hit-and-run case of Dec 15. This is puzzling, said Foreign Minister George Yeo, as 'it seems to imply that Romania is now claiming that Dr Ionescu was engaged in official duties at the time of the accident and we do not understand how this can possibly be the case'. On the other hand, Romanian media reports suggest that the Romanian police may be preparing to arrest the suspended diplomat. The police there have told Interpol that they have the competence to prosecute him and they have started criminal proceedings against him.

BUCHAREST - A Romanian court jailed for 29 days Saturday a diplomat allegedly involved in a hit-and-run crash in Singapore in December that killed a Malaysian, media reported. Silviu Ionescu, a former charge d'affaires in Singapore, was detained for questioning on Friday and the court later ordered him to be arrested for 29 days pending his trial. Ionescu's lawyer filed an appeal to the court's decision, news agency Mediafax reported. Ionescu 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 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.' Source : Asiaone

SINGAPORE: Singapore

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_514878.html It's....another step, I guess. Or maybe less than that. Just saber rattling and such. The 'no immunity' is for in Singapore, not Romania. Still, no real end in sight. Same situation as before, can't do anything since no extradition agreement. Besides, seems that S'pore still has not officially seek a waiver of his immunity. Meh.

A property in Bucharest belonging to former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu has been temporarily seized by his government. Romania

Wed, Mar 31, 2010 The Straits Times By Elena Chong and Teh Joo Lin FORMER Romanian diplomat Dr Silviu Ionescu was found on Wednesday to have caused the death of a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident in Bukit Panjang last December. State Coroner Victor Yeo said he was satisfied that the State had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the driver of the black Audi car involved in the Dec 15 accident was none other than Dr Ionescu, 49, then the charge d'affaires of the Romanian Embassy. After a six-day inquiry into the death of Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, an assistant manager, earlier this month , the coroner recorded a verdict of death due to the reckless act of a known person.

Police investigations reveal Dr Ionescu was driver of car that hit 3 people in Dec By Shaffiq Alkhatib, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 27 January 2010 1430 hrs SINGAPORE: Police investigations have revealed that Romanian diplomat, Dr Silviu Ionescu, was the driver of a car that was involved in a hit-and-run accident on December 15 last year. The accident resulted in the death of 30-year-old Singapore permanent resident, Tong Kok Wai, and injured two others. Deputy Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum told the Coroner's Court on Wednesday that the state will "lead evidence that 49-year-old Dr Ionescu is criminally concerned in causing Mr Tong's death". The court heard that the car from the Romanian Embassy hit Mr Tong and another pedestrian, 24-year-old Bong Hwee Haw, as they were crossing the road at a traffic junction of Bukit Panjang Road and Bangkit Road, at around 3.10am on December 15. Instead of stopping, the car sped off. It hit 18-year-old Muhammad Haris Abu Talib at the next controlled junction. Mr Lau told the State Coroner Victor Yeo that the traffic lights were in favour of the pedestrians in both instances. Mr Lau also said that Dr Ionescu made a 999 call about 30 minutes after the accidents to report that the car, a black Audi, had been stolen. Police investigations, however, revealed that the car wasn't stolen. The vehicle was recovered at around 11am that day, locked and abandoned at 21 Sungei Kadut Avenue. Mr Lau said the right side of the car front windscreen was smashed. The front bonnet and the driver's door were dented. Dr Ionescu left Singapore for Romania on December 18 - as he said that he was seeking treatment for health problems. All three pedestrians who were involved in the accidents were sent to the National University Hospital. However, Mr Tong, who suffered fractures to his right leg and skull, succumbed to his injuries and died on Christmas Day - 10 days after the accident. His widow, Yenny Young, has engaged prominent criminal lawyer, Subhas Anandan. Mr Bong has engaged a team led by N Srinivasan from Hoh Law Corporation. He wants to be compensated for the injuries he sustained. Mr Srinivasan told reporters that his client, who has already returned to Sarawak, incurred hospital bills amounting to nearly S$50,000. The pre-inquiry conference for this case will be held on February 24. The coroner's inquiry will begin on March 3. At least 35 witnesses will be called at the inquiry.