Asia-Pacific News
Romania diplomat blamed for fatal Singapore accident
Mar 31, 2010, 7:04 GMT
Singapore - A Singapore Coroner's Court on Wednesday ruled that reckless driving by former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu caused a fatal hit-and-run accident in December, a newspaper reported.
The former charge d'affaires, currently back in Romania, was identified by police as the driver of an Audi that hit three pedestrians on December 15, including Tong Kok Wai, who died, The Strait Times said.
Tong, 30, died in hospital more than a week after he was hit by the car. The other two victims were injured.
Ionescu, 49, left Singapore three days after the accidents, citing weak health. He also declined to return for the six-day Coroner's Court hearing held March 3-10.
He has maintained his innocence, claiming his car had been stolen at the time of the accident. Ionescu has also said in a letter to Foreign Minister George Yeo and The Straits Times that the authorities in Singapore had already decided he was guilty before the inquest.
Evidence from more than 50 witnesses, forensic data and video camera footage was presented during the coroner's hearing.
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