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Friday 29 January 2010
Romanian envoy was hit-and-run driver: Police
Police yesterday said they have evidence that Romanian Charge d’Affaires Silviu Ionescu was the driver of the car involved in a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead and two others injured last month.
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent 28 January 2010
Police yesterday said they have evidence that Romanian Charge d’Affaires Silviu Ionescu was the driver of the car involved in a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead and two others injured last month.
In rare proceedings held yesterday, Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum told State Coroner Victor Yeo that Dr Ionescu, 49, beat two red lights and hit three pedestrians while driving an Audi A6 sedan on Dec 15.
Less than an hour later, he made a false police report that the car had been stolen. Three days later, he left Singapore.
Mr. Tong Kok Wai, 30, one of the three victims, died 10 days after the accident at the junction of Bukit Panjang Road and Bangkit Road.
Two others, waiter Bong Hwee Haw, 24, and Muhammad Haris Abu Talib, 18, were hurt in the accident.
Yesterday’s proceedings were held ahead of an inquest into Mr. Tong’s death.
The inquiry itself has been fixed to last a week from March 3 and the court will hear evidence from at least 35 witnesses.
A coroner’s inquiry is held when an unnatural death occurs. The Criminal Procedure Code provides for the Coroner to inquire when, where and how the death came about, and also whether anyone is ‘criminally concerned’ in it.
In court yesterday, Mr. Lau said that the State would lead evidence to show that Dr Ionescu was that person.
Mr. Tong and Mr. Bong, 24, were crossing the road when the diplomat’s car rammed into them at about 3.10am.
Mr. Bong, who is from Sarawak, suffered several injuries.
Mr. Muhammad Haris, who was with his brother and friends, was hit while crossing the road on a skate scooter. The ITE (Dover) student suffered injuries to his neck and leg.
Eight hours after the accident, the Audi was found locked and abandoned in the Sungei Kadut industrial estate, its windscreen smashed and its bonnet and driver’s door dented.
Since then, there has been immense speculation over whether Dr Ionescu was involved.
Several witnesses have come forward. Some claimed they saw him near the scene, while one taxi driver said he picked the Romanian up in Sungei Kadut around the time the police report was made that the Audi had been stolen.
Dr Ionescu has since been recalled from his post by the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry. Whether he will return for the hearing remains unclear.
Because he is a diplomat, he has immunity from criminal prosecution, which means he cannot be brought before the court here unless the Romanian authorities waive his immunity.
The Romanian economic counsellor and acting charge d’affaires Alexandru Nicolae Coseru, who was present during yesterday’s proceedings, said Dr Ionescu’s case had been brought to the Prosecutor Office’s attention in Romania.
‘It is not in our hands any more,’ he added.
Mr. N. Srinivasan, who heads a team of lawyers representing Mr. Bong, said he would be looking at all avenues to secure fair compensation for his client, who was discharged from hospital only recently.
He said Mr. Bong, who suffered a fractured skull, face and leg, still cannot walk. He has returned to Kuching for rehabilitation because he cannot afford to add to the more than $50,000 medical bill he has already runup.
Mr. Srinivasan added: ‘We will make sure that we will not leave any stone unturned. It’s a very sad case.’
Mr. Patrick Yeo and Mr. Sunil Sudheesan are representing Mr. Tong’s widow at the inquest.
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Romanian envoy was hit-and-run driver: Police
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
28 January 2010
Police yesterday said they have evidence that Romanian Charge d’Affaires Silviu Ionescu was the driver of the car involved in a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead and two others injured last month.
In rare proceedings held yesterday, Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum told State Coroner Victor Yeo that Dr Ionescu, 49, beat two red lights and hit three pedestrians while driving an Audi A6 sedan on Dec 15.
Less than an hour later, he made a false police report that the car had been stolen. Three days later, he left Singapore.
Mr. Tong Kok Wai, 30, one of the three victims, died 10 days after the accident at the junction of Bukit Panjang Road and Bangkit Road.
Two others, waiter Bong Hwee Haw, 24, and Muhammad Haris Abu Talib, 18, were hurt in the accident.
Yesterday’s proceedings were held ahead of an inquest into Mr. Tong’s death.
The inquiry itself has been fixed to last a week from March 3 and the court will hear evidence from at least 35 witnesses.
A coroner’s inquiry is held when an unnatural death occurs. The Criminal Procedure Code provides for the Coroner to inquire when, where and how the death came about, and also whether anyone is ‘criminally concerned’ in it.
In court yesterday, Mr. Lau said that the State would lead evidence to show that Dr Ionescu was that person.
Mr. Tong and Mr. Bong, 24, were crossing the road when the diplomat’s car rammed into them at about 3.10am.
Mr. Bong, who is from Sarawak, suffered several injuries.
Mr. Muhammad Haris, who was with his brother and friends, was hit while crossing the road on a skate scooter. The ITE (Dover) student suffered injuries to his neck and leg.
Eight hours after the accident, the Audi was found locked and abandoned in the Sungei Kadut industrial estate, its windscreen smashed and its bonnet and driver’s door dented.
Since then, there has been immense speculation over whether Dr Ionescu was involved.
Several witnesses have come forward. Some claimed they saw him near the scene, while one taxi driver said he picked the Romanian up in Sungei Kadut around the time the police report was made that the Audi had been stolen.
Dr Ionescu has since been recalled from his post by the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry. Whether he will return for the hearing remains unclear.
Because he is a diplomat, he has immunity from criminal prosecution, which means he cannot be brought before the court here unless the Romanian authorities waive his immunity.
The Romanian economic counsellor and acting charge d’affaires Alexandru Nicolae Coseru, who was present during yesterday’s proceedings, said Dr Ionescu’s case had been brought to the Prosecutor Office’s attention in Romania.
‘It is not in our hands any more,’ he added.
Mr. N. Srinivasan, who heads a team of lawyers representing Mr. Bong, said he would be looking at all avenues to secure fair compensation for his client, who was discharged from hospital only recently.
He said Mr. Bong, who suffered a fractured skull, face and leg, still cannot walk. He has returned to Kuching for rehabilitation because he cannot afford to add to the more than $50,000 medical bill he has already runup.
Mr. Srinivasan added: ‘We will make sure that we will not leave any stone unturned. It’s a very sad case.’
Mr. Patrick Yeo and Mr. Sunil Sudheesan are representing Mr. Tong’s widow at the inquest.
A pre-inquiry conference will be held on Feb 24.
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