Romanian diplomat was driver in Singapore fatal accident

Jan 27, 2010, 8:04 GMT

Singapore - A Singapore state counsel confirmed Wednesday a Romanian diplomat was behind the wheel of an embassy car when it ran over and killed a Malaysian man in December, a news report said.

Silviu Ionesco, 49, the highest-ranking Romanian diplomat in the city-state, had filed a police report that the embassy car had been stolen and left Singapore three days after the accident.

But in a court briefing on Wednesday State Counsel Lau Wing Yum said police investigations proved that the car had not been stolen and that Ionescu was the driver in the fatal hit-and-run accident, the online edition of the Straits Times newspaper reported.

The Romanian embassy car hit Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, who was walking on a pedestrian crossing, and another man on December 15.

The car then sped off and hit an 18-year-old student at another junction.

The car was found later with its front screen smashed and bonnet dented, according to the newspaper.

Tong died 10 days after the accident from severe brain damage, the two other victims were injured.

Romania's Foreign Ministry recalled Ionescu shortly after the accident and said it was conducting an internal investigation in the matter.

According to the state counsel, the whereabouts of Ionescu were not known.

An inquiry into the death of Tong would be held from March 3 to 10, said the report, adding that at least 35 witnesses would be heard.