Romanian Diplomat claims he was 'SETUP' by the Singapore Government

[louisoh]

Feb 11, 2010
Allegations 'entirely false'

ROMANIAN Charge d'Affaires Silviu Ionescu, who has been identified as the driver of the car involved in a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead and two others injured last December, has made very serious allegations against the integrity of the Singapore Government, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

An MFA spokesman on Thursday said that Dr Ionescu had in a recent interview with a television station back in Romania, alleged that the case against him was a 'set-up' by the Singapore Government because he had been reporting on political activities here.

'Dr Ionescu had alleged that there had been a similar case in 2007, when he was also accused of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident, but was eventually let off as he had an alibi at that time,] said the MFA spokesman.

MFA, which summoned Mr Aurelian Neagu, Romanian Ambassador to Singapore, to the ministry on Thursday, told the envoy that Dr Ionescu 'had made very serious allegations against the integrity of the Singapore Government which MFA categorically rejected as lacking any basis in fact.'

'These allegations were also a gross insult to the victims of the two accidents,' said the ministry's spokesman, who added that Dr Ionescu's claim that he had been accused of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident in 2007 is 'entirely false.'

The spokesman pointed out that records showed that the Romanian Embassy vehicle was involved in two traffic accidents in 2007. The first was a minor non-injury accident where the driver was not Dr Ionescu and the other driver did not wish to pursue the matter.

In the second case, it was established then that Dr Ionescu, who was the driver, was not at fault and action was taken against the other driver involved in the accident.

'These facts clearly show that Dr Ionescu's claims are fictitious and at no time was he ever accused by the Police of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident in 2007.'

MFA also asked Ambassador Neagu for more information on the status of the criminal proceedings in Romania against Dr Ionescu, and on the Romanian system of investigations and prosecutions.

'The next step will depend on the Romanian Government's response to our requests and the outcome of the Coroner's Inquiry,' said the spokesman.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_489498.html

[edsonchan]

Everyone is looking at this like a drama....

The amount of stress added to the victims' family is unmeasurable...

I don't understand why Hong Kong serial not shown in Romania, they also know how to create such plots...

I had an experience with these Europeans before.

I left some money in the safe in my hotel room.. When I come back, I realized there was some money missing. 2 notes were taken from the small stack..

I lodge a complaint to the manager and reported the case to the police.. He insisted that all safe's activities including opening and closing timing were logged. He definitely will have an answer for me. He also mentioned that all the chambermaids that have entered my room will be recorded as well. I think he just wanted to push the matter because I am leaving the next day anyway. After I came back to Singapore, I did not let he matter off and kept on pressing the manager to give me an answer.

His reply:

It was unfortunate that the logging system for the safe on that particular day was not retrievable because of a serious virus.

Nevertheless, the investigation shown that there was only 1 chambermaid that entered my room. She was brought to the police for interrogation. On top of that, she was put on the lie detector and everything she say is not a lie. She did not take the money.

VERY DRAMA

[toffeesthings]

He's been set up?! More like he set Singapore and the victims families up by running away, then agreeing to come back to face trial and now this!
I shudder at the integrity of the Romanian Government should such people be made officials and diplomats. By showing such lack of remorse, he should be punished the same way his victims were!

[kenkelvin]

this guy jialat lei. really cannot make it

[rh1667]

[QUOTE=louisoh;247343]Feb 11, 2010
Allegations 'entirely false'

ROMANIAN Charge d'Affaires Silviu Ionescu, who has been identified as the driver of the car involved in a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead and two others injured last December, has made very serious allegations against the integrity of the Singapore Government, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.



MFA, which summoned Mr Aurelian Neagu, Romanian Ambassador to Singapore, to the ministry on Thursday, told the envoy that Dr Ionescu 'had made very serious allegations against the integrity of the Singapore Government which MFA categorically rejected as lacking any basis in fact.'

'These allegations were also a gross insult to the victims of the two accidents,' said the ministry's spokesman, who added that Dr Ionescu's claim that he had been accused of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident in 2007 is 'entirely false.'


QUOTE]

Hmm....wonder if our government will sue this guy for this??

[louie]

this dude reali fulll of xhittt!

[exxondus]

hope justice will prevail.

if that guy is guilty, hope he rots in jail

[batamboy]

Justice has long arms, he will reap what he has sowed. He cannot escape from Karma! He can run but he cant hide. IF he can escape this time, that means our SG law n justice has no control over these junk ppl (sorry to say that)...Lets have faith in our law to bring them to justice. Hope there wont be a 2nd Micheal Fay case.

[Frogmen]

Timely to recall our diplomat back from Romania. We might be small but that doesnt mean they can make allegations against the integrity of the Singaporeans and the government .

[UncleLau]

I wonder like our Pedra Branca island lighthouse case....do we have a International High Court Tribunal ?

Hope that moron is brought to Justice !

[KuchingKu]

This bastard is laughing at us from Romania!

Romanian envoy not returning for inquiry because of 'poor health'
26 Feb 2010
Source: The Straits Times
FORMER Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu is unlikely to return to Singapore for a coroner’s inquiry into the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai, which begins on Wednesday.

In his first comments to the Singapore media since leaving the country on Dec 18, three days after Mr Tong was killed in a hit-and-run accident involving a Romanian Embassy car in Bukit Panjang, Dr Ionescu said his failing health was the main reason he may not return.

He claimed that he could die as a result of his illness, believed to be diabetes.

Dr Ionescu also said reports that police investigations showed he had been the driver of the car factored into his decision.

But he firmly denied having anything to do with the accident that killed Mr Tong, or another later that day that left two people injured.

The Romanian has been at the centre of a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent weeks. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) summoned his country’s ambassador to the Republic two weeks ago to request that Dr Ionescu be asked to attend the coroner’s inquiry.

In response, Romania said it had washed its hands of the former charge d’affaires of its embassy here, adding that he was facing criminal charges relating to the hit-and-run accident back home.

On Monday, the case was brought up in Parliament, when Foreign Minister George Yeo said the Romanian government would have to act according to its own law if Dr Ionescu were charged here
and a request made for his extradition.

On Tuesday, Romania responded formally to the MFA, repeating that it could not force Dr Ionescu to return as he was no longer a diplomat.

In a phone interview with The Straits Times yesterday, Dr Ionescu was alternately defiant and sombre.

He took the Singapore authorities to task, saying: “I read in newspapers that prosecutors (in Singapore) were accusing me long before they had the right to.

“They should have done a preliminary inquiry first. It was clearly a sign that I shouldn’t come back.”

He claimed that he was willing to come back, but changed his mind after reading reports that he was a suspect.

Turning to his illness, he said in a grave voice: “It has been very painful. It is much more serious than I thought it was.

“Most probably, I will not be able to see the end of the trial here.”

But, he said in an agitated voice, he is determined to clear his name, and will do so in a letter he will send to the Singapore Government in a few days’ time.

He refused to give details, but said: “My lawyers have advised me not to do this, but I think I have nothing to hide. It will be my official response.”

Turning to the accident, the Romanian said that though it was “very tragic”, it had been blown out of proportion.

He said: “Someone died. It’s not something solitary, but happens all over the world. There are bigger stories out there.”

Dr Ionescu grew more agitated when asked about comments he had made to the Romanian media that he had been “set up” by the Singapore Government.

MFA called his comments “very serious allegations against the integrity of the Singapore Government”, but dismis
position.”sed them as baseless and not grounded in fact.

But yesterday, the former diplomat blamed journalists, saying his comments had been taken out of context.

He said: “You can’t speak freely. The reporters stop you before you can finish answering and ask you a different question. They were interpreting it from only half of an answer.

“I hope people will understand my real position."

He added: “I have nothing against the Singapore Government. I really like Singapore, even if we have different systems. I cannot be a judge of that.

“I don’t want to prove that my system is better than yours.”

Several times, he said: “I am not guilty.”

The inquest into Mr Tong’s death will involve 50 witnesses, the largest number to take the stand during a coroner’s inquiry in recent history.

[116520]

I am wondering if Romania could not force Dr Ionescu to return as he was no longer a diplomat, and since he is no longer a diplomat, who can "force" him back to Singapore?

If that's the case, can I fly to Romania and rob the banks and fly back to singapore without worrying to get caught?

[toffeesthings]

I am wondering if Romania could not force Dr Ionescu to return as he was no longer a diplomat, and since he is no longer a diplomat, who can "force" him back to Singapore?

If that's the case, can I fly to Romania and rob the banks and fly back to singapore without worrying to get caught?

Haha, why not run down cowardly former diplomats in your getaway car while you're at it? Since you're not a Singapore diplomat, nobody can force you back to Romania.

Quite clearly the Romanian government is siding Ionescu. If not, why not just accord him diplomat status and force him him to Singapore. When he's back here, take away his diplomatic immunity!

[Wenda]

I hardly doubt this guy will ever be back in Singapore.

Yes, this seems to be just the beginning of unending drama.

The one that I sympathize the most is the family of the victims.

[116520]

I thought this kind of guy will only appear in stephen chow's movies. Really want to slap him everytime I see him.