Singapore's Foreign Ministry summons Romanian Ambassador to Singapore
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Romanian Ambassador to Singapore, Aurelian Neagu, to a meeting next week in the city-state to discuss the charges preferred by the Attorney-General's Chambers against Dr Silviu Ionescu.
The state coroner had ruled that Dr Ionescu, Romania's former Charge d'Affaires, was the driver of the car that hit three pedestrians on December 15 last year.
Responding to media queries, the Ministry provided a summary of the charges.
They include:
- Causing the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai by reckless driving, or alternatively, by a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide
- Causing grievous hurt to Mr Bong Hwee Hwa by a rash act
- Reckless driving, resulting in a collision into Mr Muhammad Haris Abu Talib
- Failing to stop after an accident
- Failing to lodge a report after an accident
- Failing to render assistance after an accident
- Removing vehicle without police authority
- Giving false information to a police officer
The ministry added that Dr Silviu Ionescu's comments carried in the media are outrageous and cast aspersions on the integrity of Singapore's judicial system, which are entirely without basis.
The Singapore legal system is widely known for its transparency, integrity and high standards, and has consistently scored highly in international rankings on the administration of justice and judicial independence.
In the Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009, Singapore placed 13th in the area of the fair administration of justice, while Romania ranked 37th.
In the Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Singapore was 19th for judicial independence, compared to Romania's 84th placing.
The ministry said that as Dr Ionescu continues to maintain his innocence, the best way to resolve this is for him to return to Singapore to give his side of the story.
It added that Dr Ionescu remains an employee of the Romanian Foreign Ministry. While he has been suspended from his duties, he has not been dismissed.
It also said that at the meeting next week, it trusts that the ambassador will unambiguously and categorically disassociate the Romanian government from Dr Ionescu's views.
Furthermore, MFA said it is puzzled by the comments reportedly made by Ambassador Neagu in Thursday's Straits Times that Romania had yet to receive evidence related to the case from the Singapore authorities.
The ministry said this is untrue, pointing out that copies of the documents that were tendered at the Coroner's Inquiry were extended to Mr Alex Coseru of the Romanian Embassy during the course of the Inquiry from 3 March 2010 to 10 March 2010.
These consisted of two document folders and eight volumes of photographs.
On the last day of the Inquiry on 10 March 2010, Mr Alex Coseru requested from the State Counsel a copy of the Investigation Report. This was extended to him and he left thereafter, leaving behind the two document folders and the eight volumes of photographs which were earlier given to him.
The Singapore authorities have seen to the due process of the law in Singapore.
Singapore will cooperate to the fullest extent possible under its law with the Romanian authorities to ensure that justice is served.
