Singapore urges Romania to investigate fatal accidents

Mar 15, 2010, 6:52 GMT

Singapore - Singapore urged Romania to investigate thoroughly two hit-and-run accidents that supposedly involved a former Romanian diplomat posted in the city-state, media reports said Monday.

Law Minister K Shanmugam said he expected Romania to 'seriously consider' police evidence from a Singapore coroner's inquiry that pointed to Romanian ex-envoy Silviu Ionescu, 49, as the driver of an embassy car that first hit and killed one man and, seconds later, hurt two other pedestrians on December 15.

'The evidence laid out in the coroner's inquiry is there for all to see,' the Straits Times newspaper quoted Shanmugam as saying.

'We expect that it is taken seriously and have asked the Romanian authorities to take the appropriate steps,' he said.

Ionescu, the then-highest ranking Romanian diplomat posted in Singapore, denied the allegations and left for Romania shortly after the accidents.

He declined to return for the inquest on medical grounds.

Romania suspended Ionescu from his diplomatic duties and said he faces criminal charges in his home country related to the accidents.

Shanmugam said Romania had requested access to Singapore court documents, adding that the city-state was ready to work with the authorities there, according to the report.

The findings of the coroner's inquiry, which included more than 50 witnesses, are set to be relased by the end of the month.