Romanian Court Overrules Fmr Envoy’s Request To Cancel International Arrest Warrant

The court said Ionescu's request is inadmissible and the decision can be appealed with the High Court of Justice.

Ionescu told MEDIAFAX he will appeal the ruling with the High Court of Justice.

Ionescu said he has not seen the court's motivation to its ruling, adding he learnt from the prosecutor who presented the case that the court does not have jurisdiction to cancel the arrest warrant. The former envoy added he will go before the European Court for Human Rights to prove Romanian judges have jurisdiction in this case, if the issue is not solved in Romania.

The Bucharest Court of Appeals judged Ionescu's request on Wednesday. The former envoy said before the court the Singaporean authorities try to put pressure on him, as he cannot leave the country. He also said he is confident he will not stand trial in the case in which he is accused of negligent homicide, as prosecutors do not have enough evidence to justify accusations against him.

Ionescu filed the request to have his international arrest warrant cancelled on April 23 with the Bucharest Court of Appeals.

Early April, Singapore's Police sent Interpol Romania an international arrest warrant against Ionescu. The Romanian Justice Ministry told Interpol Romania that the former envoy to Singapore cannot be placed under provisional arrest to be extradited to Singapore, as Romania did not lift the former envoy's diplomatic immunity.

The Justice Ministry said both Romania and Singapore joined the Vienna Convention regarding diplomatic relations, therefore, investigations into Ionescu's case must be carried out by Romanian authorities.

According to the Vienna Convention regarding diplomatic relations, a diplomat enjoys immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state, which does not exempt the respective diplomat from the jurisdiction of the sending state.

The ministry also said that, according to Romania's Constitution, Romanian citizens cannot be extradited or expelled from their country.

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