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Investigation Finds Romania’s Fmr Envoy To Blame For December Hit-And-Run In Singapore

A A Singapore Coroner's Court has concluded that it was reckless driving by Romania’s former envoy Silviu Ionescu that caused a fatal hit-and-run accident mid December last year, The Straits Times reported in its online edition Wednesday.
Investigation Finds Romania’s Fmr Envoy To Blame For December Hit-And-Run In Singapore
31 mart. 2010, 10:03, English

The former charge d’affaires, currently back in Romania, was identified by police as the driver of an Audi that hit three pedestrians on December 15, including Tong Kok Wai, who died, the paper said.

Tong, 30, died in hospital more than a week after he was hit by the car. The other two victims were injured.

Ionescu, 49, at the time the highest-ranking Romanian diplomat posted to the city-state, claimed the car had been stolen and denied the allegations. He left Singapore three days after the accidents, citing weak health. He also declined to return for the six-day Coroner’s Court hearing held March 3-10.

He has maintained his innocence, claiming his car had been stolen at the time of the accident. Ionescu has also said in a letter to Foreign Minister George Yeo and The Straits Times that the authorities in Singapore had already decided he was guilty before the inquest.

Evidence from more than 50 witnesses, forensic data and video camera footage was presented during the coroner’s hearing.

Romania suspended Ionescu from his diplomatic duties and said he also faces criminal charges in his home country relating to the accidents.