Diplomat is a suspect in hit and run

[Guest blackknight]

Teh Joo Lin & Jermyn Chow

Wed, Dec 30, 2009

The Straits Times

THE Romanian diplomat who claimed that his embassy car was stolen at the time it was involved in a hit-and-run accident a fortnight ago is now a suspect in the case.

Dr Silviu Ionescu, the charge d'affaires of the Romanian Embassy in Singapore, has not been ruled out as the person behind the wheel of the Audi car in the early morning hit-and-run.

One of the three men who was hit in the Bukit Panjang accident has died.

[Guest blackknight]

Embassy car crash: New evidence surfaces FRESH evidence has surfaced to put the Romanian embassy's charge d'affaires in the Sungei Kadut area where the embassy's car - which was involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident - was found abandoned later that morning.

A cabby yesterday told The Straits Times that he had picked up Dr Silviu Ionescu, the highest ranking Romanian embassy official in Singapore, at 3am-3.30am on Dec 15 in the Sungei Kadut area, after Dr Ionescu had flagged him down.

The industrial area is about 5km from Bukit Panjang, where the embassy's Audi A6 car hit three pedestrians at about 3.10am.

What happened on Dec 15

1.30am: Dr Silviu Ionescu parks his car in front of his embassy, off Farrer Road, he says, after returning to work from a karaoke session with some businessmen in Peace Centre.

About 3am: He leaves the embassy, he claims, only to find his car missing from where he parked it.

About 3.10am: The Audi hits three men in Bukit Panjang before speeding off. One man has since died.

3.33am: A taxi picks up Dr Ionescu in the Sungei Kadut area, not far from where his car is later found abandoned.

[Guest blackknight]

Romania to probe envoy Wed, Jan 06, 2010

The Straits Times ROMANIA'S Foreign Ministry has asked its government Prosecutor's Office to investigate the Bukit Panjang hit-and-run accident on Dec 15 which has been linked to the charge d'affaires of its embassy in Singapore.

The move came after it carried out an internal investigation, 'which led to the conclusion that from the point of view of legal procedures and international regulations, the MFA has neither the competences nor the means to identify the author, the cause and the circumstances of the accident, all such aspects pertaining to penal procedure,' said a press statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

'The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also provided the Prosecutor's Office with all the information gathered in this case following its own internal investigation,' it added.

No immunity from state jurisdiction

Article 31, first paragraph, from the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations (18 April 1961) stipulates that 'A diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State'.

But paragraph 4 of the article in the Convention states: 'The immunity of a diplomatic agent from the jurisdiction of the receiving State does not exempt him from the jurisdiction of the sending State'. As a consequence, the penal investigation in a case in which a diplomat is involved in the receiving state takes place in the state whose citizen he/she is.'

Both Romania and Republic of Singapore are parties to the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

[Guest jsiau]

blackknight wrote:

Romania to probe envoy Wed, Jan 06, 2010

The Straits Times ROMANIA'S Foreign Ministry has asked its government Prosecutor's Office to investigate the Bukit Panjang hit-and-run accident on Dec 15 which has been linked to the charge d'affaires of its embassy in Singapore.

The move came after it carried out an internal investigation, 'which led to the conclusion that from the point of view of legal procedures and international regulations, the MFA has neither the competences nor the means to identify the author, the cause and the circumstances of the accident, all such aspects pertaining to penal procedure,' said a press statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

'The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also provided the Prosecutor's Office with all the information gathered in this case following its own internal investigation,' it added.

No immunity from state jurisdiction

Article 31, first paragraph, from the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations (18 April 1961) stipulates that 'A diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State'.

But paragraph 4 of the article in the Convention states: 'The immunity of a diplomatic agent from the jurisdiction of the receiving State does not exempt him from the jurisdiction of the sending State'. As a consequence, the penal investigation in a case in which a diplomat is involved in the receiving state takes place in the state whose citizen he/she is.'

Both Romania and Republic of Singapore are parties to the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

And now he says he is not coming back to help SPF with the investigation.....haiz what to say... KUAN ZHI got two mouth .one say left the other say right

PITY PITY the dead..I think sue also cannot get compensation........

[Guest blackknight]

Police conclude hit-and-run probe involving Romanian Embassy car

By Zul Othman, TODAY | Posted: 11 January 2010 0755 hrs

SINGAPORE - The police have concluded their investigations into the Bukit Panjang hit-and-run accident involving a Romanian Embassy car.

A police spokeswoman said on Sunday that the investigation papers are now with the Attorney-General's Chambers "for their direction on the appropriate course of action to be taken".

On December 15, at about 3.10am, a black Audi A6 hit three pedestrians along Bukit Panjang Road. One victim, Mr Tong Kok Wai, 30, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day, while two others suffered injuries.

Dr Silviu Ionescu, the charge d'affaires at the Romanian Embassy here, reported later to the police that the vehicle had been stolen. He left for Romania shortly after the accident, citing treatment for his diabetes.

Mr Tong's widow has now engaged the services of criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan.

The case has sparked interest in the Romanian media, with newspapers and Internet sites picking up news reports here on the incident.

Last week, it was reported that Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked its Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation into the incident, following the ministry's "internal investigation" into the matter.

Nevertheless, the police spokeswoman stated on Sunday that they "have not handed the investigation file to the Romanian Prosecutor's Office".

[Guest blackknight]

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.

- CNA/sc

(Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...033357/1/.html)