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Romanian hit-and-run inquest March

M

Musashi Miyamoto

Guest

Feb 1, 2011


Prosecution to appeal Ionescu travel decision

ionescu-reuters.jpg


Ionescu - on trial for two Dec 2009 hit-and-run incidents in Singapore - faces charges of homicide, causing physical injuries and making false statements. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SINGAPORE'S Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon on the continuing trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu in Romania.

The MFA statement read: 'The Ministry has been informed that the Prosecution Office of Romania has decided to appeal against the decision of the Court to allow Dr Silviu Ionescu to travel outside of Bucharest. The hearing for the appeal is scheduled for Feb 7 2011 (Monday).'

Ionescu - on trial for two Dec 2009 hit-and-run incidents in Singapore - faces charges of homicide, causing physical injuries and making false statements.

Last week, a Romanian court decided to allow Ionescu to travel out of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, after the former diplomat appealed.

Ionescu had told the court that he needed to travel as he was now a business consultant, and that he needed money as he was the sole breadwinner in his family.

 
S

Sun Quan

Guest

May 13, 2011

Witness can identify driver of Romanian embassy car

By Khushwant Singh

izaan.wongkwaihow.jpg


A witness told a Romanian court via videolink that he would be able to recognise the driver of the car that ploughed into his friend between 2am and 3am on Dec 15, 2009. Mr Ricarno Izaan Lachica (above) said it was a Caucasian man at the wheel. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

A WITNESS told a Romanian court via videolink that he would be able to recognise the driver of the car that ploughed into his friend between 2am and 3am on Dec 15, 2009. Mr Ricarno Izaan Lachica said it was a Caucasian man at the wheel.

The 22-year-old full-time National Serviceman was not asked to identify the culprit but Judge Raluca Andras asked to return next Friday as the court may have more questions.

The former Romanian charge d'affaires in Singapore, Silviu Ionescu, is presently on trial in a Bucharest court for manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements. The ex-diplomat, 51, is alleged to have hit three pedestrians while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission, and to have fled the scene.

He denies he was the driver at the time and says that the black Audi A6 had been stolen while he was working at the embassy at about the time of the accident.

In the first hit-and-rum along Bukit Panjang Road, hotel assistant manager Tong Kok Wai, 30, a Malaysian, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day. His friend, Mr Bong Hwee Haw, 24, also a Malaysian, was severely injured in the crash but has recovered. A few hundred metres down the road, Mr Muhammad Haris Abu Talib, 19, was run down.

His elder brother Muhammad Zahari, 24, a second-year undergraduate at Nanyang Technological University, said the group had waited at the junction with Bangkit Road until the 'green man' came on. Midway Bukit Panjang Road, he became aware of a car speeding at them and jumped out of its way.

More witnesses are expected to testify via videolink next Thursday.

 
S

Sun Quan

Guest
Re: Romanian envoy met MFA


May 19, 2011

Cabby says ex-Romanian diplomat 'seemed suspicious'

By Khushwant Singh

neohockbeng.wongkwaichow.jpg


Mr Neo Hock Beng, 52, said the man appeared anxious and directed him to drive to several destinations. The taxi driver said he was told to drive to Bukit Timah Road, then to Cluny Road and then to the Grange Heights condominium. As he found this rather strange, he printed out the receipt and kept it. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

A CABBY told a Romanian court via videolink on Thursday that the Caucasian passenger he picked up along Woodlands Road at 3am two years ago 'seemed suspicious'. Mr Neo Hock Beng, 52, said the man appeared anxious and directed him to drive to several destinations.

The taxi driver said he was told to drive to Bukit Timah Road, then to Cluny Road and then to the Grange Heights condominium. As he found this rather strange, he printed out the receipt and kept it.

Silviu Ionescu, 51, the former Romanian charge d'affaires in Singapore, is now on trial in a Bucharest court for manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements over his alleged involvement in two hit-and-run accidents on Dec 15, 2009. One pedestrian died and two more hurt in the accidents near Bukit Panjang and Ionescu left for Romania three days later.

Cross-examined by Ionescu, Mr Neo denied suggestions that he went to the media before going to the authorities. Asked how the police knew it was him, the cabby said that his taxi could have been filmed by the closed-circuit television cameras at Grange Heights.

Another taxi driver, Mr Mohd Salihen Wahab, 41, recognised Ionescu in newspaper reports as the man he had seen walking away from a damaged Audi car, with diplomatic 'CD' plates, at about 3am on the day of the accidents. Mr Salihen said he had a good look at the man in a black suit walking along the deserted Sungei Kadut Avenue.

[email protected]

 
S

Sun Quan

Guest
Re: Bid to stop arrest fails


Three witnesses in Ionescu trial take to the stand
By Claudia Craiu / Sara Grosse | Posted: 19 May 2011 2209 hrs

SINGAPORE: The trial of former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu in a hit-and-run case in Singapore took place via teleconference on Thursday afternoon.

Three witnesses came to the Subordinate Court and testified to the court in Bucharest.

The first to take the stand was 18-year-old Leong Zi Quan.

He said that he was with friends on the night of the incident. He had heard a bang and when he turned around, he saw two persons lying on the ground.

The driver of a car slowed down, pulled over, then sped off. He then tried to chase the car, but the vehicle outran him.

He added that could not identify the driver but he saw his forehead. He claimed the driver had a "not too dark complexion" and that he wore something white with long sleeves.

He said that he saw another witness across the street from where he was. He claimed that he also saw a surveillance camera at the scene, but did not see it flash and assumed the camera was not in operation.

The second witness was taxi driver Neo Hock Beng, who claimed he drove a person that night, whom he had identified to Singaporean authorities as Ionescu.

He drove the passenger to Bukit Timah Road and said he was wearing a coat, was big sized and tall.

Mr Neo saved the receipt from that journey, as his passenger seemed "suspicious" to him. Despite that, he did not inform the police about his passenger.

During the journey, the passenger made two phone calls. He could not specify the content of the first call, as it was carried in a language foreign to him. The second phone call was made to the police after the passenger asked Mr Neo for the emergency number.

The witness then claimed that he was called in by the police a week after the event. At the police station, he recognised the passenger after seeing some newspaper clippings. He added that while in a Singapore court, he also identified Ionescu in a photo.

The last witness was another taxi driver, Mohd Salihen Wahab.

He said on that night, he saw a man walk away from a black Audi with diplomatic number plates.

The driver slowed down the car, as he thought the man might want a cab, and it was through this way that he was able to see him clearly.

Mr Mohd Salihen said: "He was Caucasian, dressed in a black coat, black trousers, black shoes and a white shirt."

He then claimed that as he drove past the Audi, he saw that the windscreen was hit on the right side.

After reading about a car being involved in a hit and run accident, he voluntarily told the authorities what he saw as he recognised Ionescu from the newspaper.

Two witnesses, Mohammed Noor bin Hussaid and Jeong Aye Ree, did not appear in court on Thursday.

On Friday, the court will hear from four more witnesses.

They are Athiyappan Krishnan, Ricardo Ihsaan Luchica bin Irfan, Boo Seng Yak and Chan Kian Ann. Three other witnesses could not be contacted.

-CNA/ac

 
Z

Zuo Ci

Guest
Re: Romania detains Ionescu


May 20, 2011

Witness picks Ionescu out from line-up

By Khushwant Singh

ST_20183883.jpg


The former Romanian Embassy charge d'affaires in Singapore, Silviu Ionescu (above), arrives on March 9, 2011 at the tribunal in Bucharest for a new hearing in his trial. He was identified by a witness in Singapore as the driver of a hit-and-run car via videolink from a five-man line-up in a Romanian court on Friday. -- PHOTO: AFP

A WITNESS in Singapore identified the driver of a hit-and-run car via videolink from a five-man line-up in a Romanian court on Friday.

Mr Ricarno Izaan Lachica, 22, a full-time national serviceman, said Silviu Ionescu - the country's former charge d'affairs here - was behind the wheel of the embassy car.

The Singaporean, who witnessed the accident in the early hours of Dec 15, 2009, testified that he had identified the driver a day after the accident from a large number of photographs shown to him by two police officers. He said that there was no one else present then but added that the proceedings had been videotaped. Under cross-examination by Ionescu, Mr Lachica denied he had seen a picture of the Romanian in The New Paper before he met the police.

Ionescu, 51, has been on trial in a Bucharest court since Oct 5, 2010 for manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements. The former diplomat, who fled Singapore for home, is alleged to have hit three pedestrians while driving a black Audi A6 belonging to the Romanian mission in 2009, and to have left the scene. The accidents left one pedestrian dead and two more injured.

Ionescu, who returned to Romania three days after the accident, denies he was the driver and said the car had been stolen while he was working at the embassy at about the time of the accident. But Mr Chan Kian Ann, 44, the former workshop manager with Premium Automobile Singapore - where the damaged car was sent to - said that he had not heard of an Audi car being stolen here. His colleague Boo Seng Yak, 56, an assessor, told the court that the car's locking system was in working condition and appeared 'intact'.

This is the last day of the videolink proceedings. Before transmission ended, Judge Andras said that the judicial inquiry in Romania would continue collecting other evidence and probably recall some witnesses.

 

youallhumsup

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Re: Interest over Ionescu's hit-and-run case picking up in Romania


Ionescu trial set to stretch

By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 21 September 2011 2012 hrs

ROMANIA: The judge presiding over former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu's hit-and-run case said she estimated at least three more court dates to complete proceedings, which should stretch into next year.

The judge said this on Wednesday in Bucharest where the trial against Ionescu resumed, following a five-month recess.

Ionescu was in court just before 11am Romania time, and appeared to be in good spirits.

During the session, the judge acknowledged the Singapore court's approval of a re-enactment of the incident, to be carried out in Singapore.

It was requested by the Romanian court, and was awaiting approval from the Singapore court, which came on Tuesday.

The re-enactment will involve a car similar to the one involved in the case.

It will trace the route allegedly taken by Ionescu on the night of the fatal incident in December 2009, when a pedestrian was killed in the wee hours of the morning.

The vehicle in the re-enactment will be driven by a police officer, accompanied by two witnesses from the Romanian consulate in Singapore.

The re-enactment will be carried out under similar traffic conditions as on the night of the incident.

Before Wednesday's session started, Ionescu again refuted all the accusations against him.

Singapore Special Envoy Anil Kumar Nayar was present at the proceedings.

The case has now been adjourned till 14 December this year.

-CNA/wk

 

CheesePie

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Re: Romanian judge deems Ionescu a risk to public order if he remains free

Ionescu's hit-and-run hearing on Dec 14
Posted: 14 December 2011 1039 hrs
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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Mr Anil Kumar Nayar, will attend the next hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu in Bucharest.

Dr Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, will appear in court again on December 14.

He's accused of culpable manslaughter, fleeing the scene of an accident, and giving false statements.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Mr Nayar will be accompanied by a representative from the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.

- CNA/ck

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CheesePie

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Re: Romanian High Court rejects Ionescu appeal


Ionescu's hit-and-run trial looks set to come to a close
By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 14 December 2011 2138 hrs

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BUCHAREST: The trial of Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, looks set to come to a close, according to court officials, one-and-a-half years since legal proceedings began.

Ionescu is charged with killing a pedestrian and injuring several others in a hit-and-run case in Bukit Panjang on 15 December 2009.

He is on trial for culpable manslaughter, fleeing the scene of an accident, and giving false statements.

On Wednesday, Ionescu appeared in the Bucharest court at around 11am local time, accompanied by his lawyer, looking visibly older and thinner.

He requested to admit another witness, which the court approved.

The court also ruled that three other Singaporeans, who refused to give evidence, will now be required to testify.

Another three witnesses will reappear in court via videolink to add to their earlier testimonies.

A judicial experiment will now be conducted to determine if Ionescu could have been at Bukit Panjang at the time of the accident.

This is the second such experiment. The first is a re-enactment of the incident.

The conclusion of the first experiment will be announced in January.

Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Mr Anil Kumar Nayar, attended Wednesday's hearing.

Commenting after the proceedings, he said Singapore has Romania's assurance that the trial will be fair and transparent.

He said: "It is a sad anniversary that we commemorate two years since the tragic accident, but, no matter how long the trial may take, we will follow this case closely.

"We met the Romanian head of diplomacy, Theodor Baconski, in New York this September. He assured us that the trial will be fair and transparent".

Ambassador Nayar was accompanied by a representative from the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.

The trial resumes on January 18, and is expected to end on January 20.

- CNA/ir
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: Romania welcomes envoy


Ionescu's hit-and-run hearings resume

Posted: 17 January 2012 1830 hrs
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SINGAPORE: Singapore's special envoy to Romania, Anil Kumar Nayar, will attend the next hearings in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, on 18 and 20 January.

Ionescu is on trial for culpable manslaughter, fleeing the scene of an accident in Singapore, and giving false statements.

Ambassador Nayar will be accompanied by a representative from the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.

- CNA/ck
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: 'Justice will be served'


Ionescu wants key witness in hit-and-run trial

Posted: 18 January 2012 1837 hrs
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BUCHAREST: A former Romanian diplomat charged with manslaughter after a deadly 2009 car crash in Singapore called on Wednesday for a key witness not yet heard in court to testify.

"The Singaporian authorities who made a national hero out of this witness and, at the beginning, accused Romanian authorities of not cooperating in the case should encourage him to testify in court", Silviu Ionescu told AFP.

Ionescu was speaking before a new hearing in his trial in Romania, which was set to resume later on Wednesday.

According to Ionescu, this witness told the police in Singapore that he tried to stop the car that caused the fatal accident in the night of December 15, 2009.

The witness said he had stopped the car after the accident, spoken to the driver and had claimed that Ionescu was at the wheel. But he has so far refused to testify in court and is not obliged to do so under Singapore law, Ionescu added.

Ionescu, who fled the country shortly after the hit-and-run accident, has repeatedly denied he was the driver and says the car was stolen.

A former Romanian charge d'affaires in the city state, he denies charges of manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements.

The diplomat is alleged to have hit three pedestrians in two separate incidents while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.

One pedestrian, a 30-year-old Malaysian national, suffered brain damage and died.

Several Singapore and Malaysian witnesses have so far testified at his trial, which started in October 2010 in Bucharest.

-AFP/ac
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset

Ionescu trial adjourned to Feb 1
By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 20 January 2012 2006 hrs
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BUCHAREST: The trial of a former Romanian diplomat accused of manslaughter after a fatal 2009 car crash in Singapore has been adjourned until February 1.

The trial was unexpectedly adjourned after Romanian court aides were unable to open video files sent from Singapore.

Sources told Channel NewsAsia the video files in question could not be read by any of the court's computers. The video files contained previous testimonies of the witnesses who gave evidence in the trial.

Silviu Ionescu, a former Romanian charge d'affaires in Singapore, is accused of hitting three pedestrians in two separate car accidents on 15 December 2009 while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission. One pedestrian suffered brain damage and died.

Ionescu has repeatedly denied he was the driver and says the car was stolen.

Though the accident took place in Singapore, the ex-diplomat is being tried in his home country. His trial started in October 2010.

Singapore's special envoy to Romania Anil Kumar Nayar and his team were present in the Court House on Friday.

Ionescu caused a stir when he made comments to the media two days ago calling for a key witness, not yet heard in court, to testify.

According to Ionescu, this witness told the police in Singapore that he had tried to stop the car after the accident, spoken to the driver and had claimed that Ionescu was at the wheel.

But Ionescu said the witness has so far refused to testify in court and is not obliged to do so under Singapore law.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is aware of the comments, and that Singapore respects the judicial process in Romania. As such, it has refrained from making any public statement about the case or the trial while it is being heard in the Romanian courts.

-CNA/ac

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Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: New phase in Ionescu case


S'pore Embassy official to attend Ionescu trial

Posted: 31 January 2012 1840 hrs
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SINGAPORE: The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Brussels, Ms Jasmine Tan, will attend Wednesday's hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Tuesday that the case continues to be of great interest to the Singapore government.

Ms Tan is attending the hearing on behalf of Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Ambassador Anil Kumar Nayar, who will be on other official duties in Luxembourg, said MFA.

Ms Tan will be accompanied by a representative from the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The former Romanian diplomat is charged with manslaughter after a fatal car crash in Singapore in December 2009.

- CNA/al
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: Romania 'doing its part'


Ionescu planned to leave S'pore long before accidents

By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 01 February 2012 2215 hrs

ROMANIA: Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu said he had planned to leave Singapore long before the accidents of December 2009.

Ionescu is on trial in the Romanian capital Bucharest for two hit-and-run accidents in Singapore which killed one of the victims.

Speaking in court on Wednesday, Ionescu said he wanted to be transferred as a vice consul in Spain, which is a position five ranks lower than the one he held in Singapore.

This was because of his medical condition and the so-called "pressure" he was facing in Singapore.

He claimed he could not reveal the sort of pressures he was allegedly being subjected to, as they constitute a state secret.

The head of the HR department in the Romanian Foreign Office, Mr S Moise, will also be called to testify that Ionescu did not have a favourable image in Singapore.

More witnesses are expected to testify on April 6 and 11 - the two new dates that were added on Wednesday.

At the end of the hearing, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Brussels Jasmine Tan said the Singapore Government continues to closely monitor the progress of the trial.

She added Singapore is grateful for the continuing assurances it has received from the Romanian Government and that justice will be served expeditiously.

Singapore also continues to be ready to extend legal assistance to the Romanian authorities.

- CNA/wk
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset

Singapore's special envoy to Romania to attend hearings in Ionescu trial

Posted: 05 April 2012 1819 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Singapore's special envoy to Romania, Anil Kumar Nayar, will attend the next hearings in the trial of Mr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, on April 6 and 11.

Mr Nayar will be accompanied by a representative from Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers.

Mr Ionescu is on trial for two hit-and-run incidents in Singapore.

The incidents in December 2009 killed one of the victims.

- CNA/cc
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: Romanian representatives on Ionescu case to visit Singapore this week


Ionescu trial resumes with surveillance footage from night of accident

By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 06 April 2012 2032 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The trial of former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, who's accused of manslaughter after two hit-and-run accidents, continued in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Friday.

For the first time, the defence team and the accused saw surveillance footage from the night of the accident.

The footage shows a dark-coloured car running down a pedestrian crossing the street but it was impossible to make out the plate number or the driver's face.

The car could be seen driving away from the crash after the driver failed to get out to check on the victim's condition.

Ionescu is accused of hitting three pedestrians in two separate car accidents on 15 December 2009.

The car he was allegedly driving at the time belonged to the Romanian mission in Singapore.

Videos shown in court on Friday were captured by cameras mounted at the junction of Bukit Panjang and Pending Road in Singapore.

Ionescu has repeatedly denied he was the driver, saying the car had been stolen.

The court also heard three audio recordings, where Ionescu informed the 999 emergency service of the embassy car's disappearance.

The trial will resume on 11 April, when two more defence witnesses will be heard.

Several Singaporean witnesses will be heard on 18 May, via video link.

- CNA/ck
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: Trip of Romania reps delayed


Ionescu trial continues in Bucharest

By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 11 April 2012 2113 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The trial of former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu continued on Wednesday in Bucharest, with two Romanian witnesses called to stand.

The former charge d'affaires to Singapore was involved in two hit-and-run incidents on December 15, 2009 which killed one man and injured two others.

One of the witnesses was Sorin Moise, the head of human resources at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He told the court that he did not remember Dr Ionescu asking to leave Singapore.

"With all my responsibility, I can state that I cannot remember having such a conversation", he told the court.

Dr Ionescu had previously claimed that his departure from Singapore had long before been planned.

Mr Moise told the court that there is no written record of such a conversation between him and Dr Ionescu.

The other witness, 40-year-old Corina Ene, is the wife of one of Dr Ionescu's childhood friends.

She told the court that her experience in Singapore had been one in which she could not remember a single travel route.

"It was the first time in my life that I could not set out a daily route. Although I was leaving every day from the same origin and going to the same destination, that is from my hotel to the city centre, taxi drivers would always take me on different routes and at different fares", she told the court.

Her testimony aims to support Dr Ionescu's claims on the intricate route that a taxi driver allegedly took on the night of the accident, as he was supposedly looking for the stolen embassy car involved in the incident.

Dr Ionescu also did not want his wife to testify in court.

Instead, he requested that the court hear the evidence of his son, Bogdan Ionescu.

Mr Ionescu will take the witness stand on May 18 when hearing resumes.
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: Fact-finding duo go back to Romania on Tuesday


Accident victim awarded $360,000 in damages

Published on May 16, 2012

ST_IMAGES_VIBONG16.jpg


Mr Bong Hwee Haw (left) suffered severe injuries to the head and fractures to his lower limbs from the 2009 accident. Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu (right), pictured here leaving a Bucharest court, is facing manslaughter charges in his country. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG, PHOTO: AFP

By K.C. Vijayan, Law Correspondent

Former croupier Bong Hwee Haw, who was one of three people knocked down in a road accident allegedly involving former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, was awarded $360,000 in damages by the High Court on Tuesday.

Mr Bong, who was then 24, is the first to be compensated for injuries suffered in the December 2009 accident.

His friend Tong Kok Wai, 30, died 10 days later, and a third victim, Muhammad Haris Abu Talib, who was then 18 and a student, suffered light injuries.

The sum, awarded by High Court assistant registrar Colin Seow, was for pain and suffering, loss of future earnings as well as past and future medical treatment costs.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Re: Ionescu trial in Romania


Ambassador to attend Ionescu trial hearing

Posted: 17 May 2012 1928 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan, will attend the next hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu on Friday in Bucharest.

Ionescu, the former charge d'affaires to Singapore, was involved in two hit-and-run accidents on December 15, 2009 which killed one man and injured two others.

Ambassador Ong will be accompanied by a representative from the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.

- CNA/wm
 

Orochi

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset

Special envoy to Romania will attend next Ionescu hearing

20120119.095348_afp_ionscu.jpg


AsiaOne
Friday, May 18, 2012

BUCHAREST - The next hearing in the trial of Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, will take place later today.

Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan will attend the hearing. A representative from the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore will accompany Mr Ong.

The trial involves witnesses giving evidence via video link from a courtroom in the Subordinate Courts in Singapore.

Ionescu was involved in a local hit-and-run accident in December 2009 which left one dead and two injured.

One of the victims, Mr Bong Hwee Haw, has since developed epilepsy due to complications from his head injuries. Mr Bong now suffers from seizures that prevent him from working.

Ionescu denies responsibility and reported the car stolen. The black Audi A6 was later found abandoned in an industrial estate.

Ionsecu could face up to seven years in jail in Bucharest for manslaughter if convicted.

[email protected]
 

Krizalid

Alfrescian
Loyal
Re: Ionescu's trial opens Tues


Ionescu trial resumes with son testifying in court

By Claudia Craiu | Posted: 18 May 2012 1709 hrs

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Silviu Ionescu (file photo)

SINGAPORE: The trial of the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, Silviu Ionescu, resumed in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, with his youngest son testifying.

Mr Bogdan Ionescu told the court on Friday that he knew what happened on the night of the accident, based on his mother's account.

He said his mother told him that his father called her in the middle of the night, saying the car had been stolen.

He could not remember when the call was made.

Ionescu, 51, is on trial for two hit-and-run accidents on 15 December 2009.

He's alleged to have hit three pedestrians in the two accidents in Bukit Panjang.

One of the victims - Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, a hotel assistant manager - died on December 25 2009.

The black Audi A6 Ionescu was allegedly driving at the time of the accident belonged to the Romanian mission in Singapore.

Ionescu repeatedly denied he was the driver, saying the car had been stolen.

During the trial, witnesses will give evidence via video link from a courtroom in the Subordinate Courts in Singapore.

At 9.50am Romanian time on Friday, the court ordered a 30-minute recess for technicians to fix the video link connection, as it was faulty.

Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Mr Ong Eng Chuan, was present in the court room in Bucharest.

The first witness from Singapore to take the stand on Friday is a driver.

He told the Romanian court that on the night of the accident, he saw a black car with diplomatic number plates.

He said it was driven by a Caucasian male, who was accompanied by an Asian female.

He saw the car at the first and at the second junction but could not confirm that the driver wore a white shirt.

The second witness was the widow of the late Mr Tong, Madam Yenny Young.

She told the court that she received a phone call from the police, informing her that husband had been injured.

She said she saw him unconscious on the hospital bed.

She said he was declared brain dead on 18 December 2009 and taken off life support on 25 December 2009.

The third witness is the chief technician at Hillcrest Arcadia.

He was asked to explain the time code differences on the surveillance cameras installed at Hillcrest Arcadia.

The fourth witness is a police officer, who inspected the car that belonged to the mission.

He told the judge about the state of the car, as well as about a set of keys found in an envelope placed in the compartment of the door of the car.

- CNA/ck
 
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