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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.

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.

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