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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - MFA finds Ionescu's comments "puzzling"</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>pylae <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>5:51 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>29243.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>MFA finds Ionescu's comments "puzzling"
By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 February 2010 1313 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it is puzzled by comments made to the media by the former Romanian Chargé d'Affaires linked to a hit-and-run case here.
Dr Silviu Ionescu had said that prosecutors in Singapore were accusing him long before they had the right to do so.
The Ministry said this in response to Dr Ionescu's remark that there should be a preliminary inquiry first and that this was clearly a sign that he should not return to the island-state.
In a statement released Friday, MFA said no charges have been made and no judgement has been passed on Dr Ionescu.
"As Singapore has made clear, the Coroner's Inquiry to be held from 3 to 10 March 2010 into the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai is not a criminal trial. The Coroner's Inquiry is simply to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the death," MFA said.
It reiterated that police investigations have revealed that the driver of the vehicle at the time of the two accidents was Dr Silviu Ionescu.
It noted that Dr Ionescu has denied this.
"As we have said many times, if Dr Ionescu was not the driver as he claims, then he should take the opportunity to attend the Inquiry to give his account of the events and pose questions to the witnesses, in order that the true circumstances surrounding the accidents may be determined," MFA said.
"Singapore's legal system is well-known internationally for its integrity and transparency. The Coroner will make a finding based on the evidence presented before him."
There is a Coroner's Inquiry next Wednesday into the death of Tong Kok Wai.
MFA has sought the assistance of the Romanian Embassy to request Dr Ionescu to return to Singapore to attend the Coroner's Inquiry as an "interested person" and not as a potential defendant.
It said that the Public Prosecutor has not decided whether it is appropriate to charge Dr Ionescu for any offences.
It added that the decision will be taken only after all the facts have been clarified at the Coroner's Inquiry.
"If the Coroner rules that Dr Ionescu was not the driver, no charges against him will be made. For this reason, it is in Dr Ionescu's interest to return to Singapore to put his version before the Coroner or to appoint a lawyer in Singapore to do so on his behalf," MFA said.
It also said found another comment made by Dr Ionescu "shocking".
Dr Ionescu had reportedly said: "Someone died. It's not something solitary, but happens all over the world. There are bigger stories out there".
"We trust the Romanian authorities do not share Dr Ionescu's irresponsible and callous attitude," MFA said.
- CNA
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By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 February 2010 1313 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it is puzzled by comments made to the media by the former Romanian Chargé d'Affaires linked to a hit-and-run case here.
Dr Silviu Ionescu had said that prosecutors in Singapore were accusing him long before they had the right to do so.
The Ministry said this in response to Dr Ionescu's remark that there should be a preliminary inquiry first and that this was clearly a sign that he should not return to the island-state.
In a statement released Friday, MFA said no charges have been made and no judgement has been passed on Dr Ionescu.
"As Singapore has made clear, the Coroner's Inquiry to be held from 3 to 10 March 2010 into the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai is not a criminal trial. The Coroner's Inquiry is simply to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the death," MFA said.
It reiterated that police investigations have revealed that the driver of the vehicle at the time of the two accidents was Dr Silviu Ionescu.
It noted that Dr Ionescu has denied this.
"As we have said many times, if Dr Ionescu was not the driver as he claims, then he should take the opportunity to attend the Inquiry to give his account of the events and pose questions to the witnesses, in order that the true circumstances surrounding the accidents may be determined," MFA said.
"Singapore's legal system is well-known internationally for its integrity and transparency. The Coroner will make a finding based on the evidence presented before him."
There is a Coroner's Inquiry next Wednesday into the death of Tong Kok Wai.
MFA has sought the assistance of the Romanian Embassy to request Dr Ionescu to return to Singapore to attend the Coroner's Inquiry as an "interested person" and not as a potential defendant.
It said that the Public Prosecutor has not decided whether it is appropriate to charge Dr Ionescu for any offences.
It added that the decision will be taken only after all the facts have been clarified at the Coroner's Inquiry.
"If the Coroner rules that Dr Ionescu was not the driver, no charges against him will be made. For this reason, it is in Dr Ionescu's interest to return to Singapore to put his version before the Coroner or to appoint a lawyer in Singapore to do so on his behalf," MFA said.
It also said found another comment made by Dr Ionescu "shocking".
Dr Ionescu had reportedly said: "Someone died. It's not something solitary, but happens all over the world. There are bigger stories out there".
"We trust the Romanian authorities do not share Dr Ionescu's irresponsible and callous attitude," MFA said.
- CNA
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