Search Results - Ionescu, Silviu

2009 Singapore Romanian diplomat incident

The Singapore Romanian diplomat incident occurred on 15 December 2009, when three pedestrians were struck in a hit-and-run in the Singapore suburb of Bukit Panjang. The vehicle, a black Audi A6 bearing diplomatic license plates, was later identified as being driven by Dr Silviu Ionescu, at the time Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Romanian Embassy in Singapore. At approximately 3 am, the vehicle ran two red lights and hit the pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing, injuring two and killing one. Approximately 40 minutes after the incident, Ionescu reported the vehicle as being stolen. The car was later found abandoned in Sungei Kadut approximately 4 hours after the collisions.

Singapore began an investigation into the incident. Romanian authorities also commenced an investigation into the incident on 6 January 2010, and formally indicted Ionescu on charges on 2 February. A Singapore coroner's inquiry held in early March 2010 determined the vehicle had not been stolen and was being driven by Ionescu at the time of the incident. Ionescu, who had left Singapore three days after the incident, declined to return to Singapore for the proceedings. Singapore authorities have used diplomatic law to interview Ionescu's driver, but Romania has declined several requests to extradite Ionescu himself.

Ionescu was arrested by Romanian authorities in May 2010. His trial in Romania began in July 2010, and in March 2013, he was sentenced to 3 years' jail after being found guilty of manslaughter, negligent bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crash. Ionescu appealed, with the result arriving in February 2014, with the Court of Appeal upholding his conviction and doubling his sentence from 3 years to 6 years. Provided by Wikipedia