SINGAPORE SUMMONS ROMANIAN AMBASSADOR OVER TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

BY ZAKARIA ABDUL WAHAB

SINGAPORE, April 2 (Bernama) –- Singapore has summoned the Tokyo-based
Romanian Ambassador to Singapore to the Foreign Affairs Ministry next week to
discuss a recent double hit-and-run traffic accident here that had
implicated one of the Romanian envoys.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Thursday it wanted to discuss the charges
preferred by the city-state’s Attorney-General's Chambers against Romanian
charge d'affaires Dr Silviu Ionescu, 49, after a Coroner's Court Wednesday found
that he was the man behind the wheel at the time of the incidents.

In the accidents, a Malaysian-born Singapore permanent resident, Tong Kok
Wai, 30, died 10 days after being hit by a car while crossing the road with
Sarawakian waiter Bong Hwee Haw, 24, in Bukit Panjang in the early hours of Dec
15 last year.

The car then sped off and hit an 18-year-old student, Muhammad Haris Abu
Talib, at the next pedestrian crossing. Both Bong and Haris suffered serious
head and bodily injuries.

The Romanian envoy that was based here left Singapore three days after the
accidents, after he lodged a police report that the embassy car was stolen
during the day of the incidents.


In a statement Thursday evening, the ministry also said the comments made by
Ionescu from Bucharest in the media today following the coroner’s verdict, were
outrageous and cast aspersions on the integrity of Singapore’s judicial system
which were entirely without basis.

Ionescu was reported to have said that he was not responsible for the
accidents and he was willing to compensate to the victim’s widow.

The ministry said the Singapore legal system was widely known for its
transparency, integrity and high standards, and had consistently scored highly
in international rankings on the administration of justice and judicial
independence.

It hoped Romanian Ambassador Aurelian Neagu would unambiguously and
categorically disassociate the Romanian government from Ionescu's views when
they met next week.

The Attorney-General's Chambers has released the summary of charges to be
preferred against Ionescu, which include for causing the death of Tong by
reckless driving, causing grievous hurt to Bong, failing to stop and render
assistance after an accident and giving false information to the police.

-– BERNAMA