What happened to the Silviu Ionescu case?

Just wondering, its been a couple months now since any news came out about Silviu Ionescu.. I still hope justice is sought but what has happened? =( I feel especially sad for the families who lost their loved ones =(

Can anyone update me? I've been out of the country for a number of months now and this case seems to me, has just faded out of the public eye =/

Tried and sentenced in romania for a couple months.

Now out and free liao

Umm, I couldn't find any news about that. How long was the sentence?

I last piece of news I could find was that his property got seized. I'm surprised that our government isn't doing more (though I don't think much more can be done). Still, this is outrageous =/

thegman88 said:

Just wondering, its been a couple months now since any news came out about Silviu Ionescu.. I still hope justice is sought but what has happened? =( I feel especially sad for the families who lost their loved ones =(

Can anyone update me? I've been out of the country for a number of months now and this case seems to me, has just faded out of the public eye =/

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Shhhhhh.....it was suppose to be planned this way.

I know this is a blatant clear-cut case.

You are stirring **** by making us remember.

Our Singapore Foreign Minister even though is highest paid in the world but it does not translate into being competent and being able to get things done.

nothing to look here people - move along, move along.
Lets move on.

well, remember the old wise words, no news is 'good' news...

thou the death of innocents is no laughing matter, depending on who's dealing with it, it could possibly end up as a laughing matter...

Maybe if he bang down one of Lao Lee's kids or grandchild then will truly uplorry.

ceecookie said:

Romanian diplomat denies hit and run

In February Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu was implicated in a hit-and-run death in Bukit Panjang. A coroner’s inquiry found that the diplomat had been drinking, and drove his car into three people on the same night.
But three days after the December accident, Ionescu had mysteriously flown home to Romania, claiming health problems.
Singapore’s government angrily issued a warrant for his arrest, but with no extradition treaty between the two countries, he refused to return, and told a reporter, “Honestly, I don’t believe in the court of Singapore.”
Romania imprisoned him for seven months on manslaughter and other charges, and then suddenly released him. He will face trial in early 2011, and still claims innocence.

http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/life/stories-changed-our-world-singapore-955462​

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WAA!!! So brave siah...not afraid of getting sued by Lao Lee and co. arh?

thegman88 said:

Umm, I couldn't find any news about that. How long was the sentence?

I last piece of news I could find was that his property got seized. I'm surprised that our government isn't doing more (though I don't think much more can be done). Still, this is outrageous =/

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ey...one of those knocked down is a MALAYSIAN CITIZEN and a Singapore PR. I didn't even hear a whisper from malaysia.
but then, that's a country whereby even a model can be bombed to pieces without a landing...so wat goes?

thegman88 said:

Just wondering, its been a couple months now since any news came out about Silviu Ionescu.. I still hope justice is sought but what has happened? =( I feel especially sad for the families who lost their loved ones =(
Can anyone update me? I've been out of the country for a number of months now and this case seems to me, has just faded out of the public eye =/

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This kind of cross straits tings will take a long time to settle wan, not least bc of the diplomatic circus btw SG and Romanian MFA and their mutual disregard for the terms of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR) both country just either Waying big big or are totally naive to 'diplomatic procedure'; SG called Interpol who also ridiculously rubber stamped the request, Romania taunting back with their ha ha 'no extradition treaty dumbo' sneer- although the VCDR (that both countries reluctantly follow) already spells out clearly how such incidents should be expeditiously and promptly settled. (see: 'The book of law should be read in spirit, from front to back and not vice versa' [11May2010])

Anyway, according to 'Ionescu hearing in Bucharest postponed to January 12' [CNA,17Nov2010]: "At Wednesday's hearing in Bucharest, the Singapore lawyer representing NTUC Income Insurance requested for the postponement... Desmond Tan from Lee and Lee Advocates told the court he will need to consult a Romanian lawyer and inform if he will be in court on that date in January. ... "

So these diplomatic things take time and require due process and the due diligence, of many quiet behind the scenes workers, police, judiciary, SG MFA officers, Romanian MFA officers, Romanian Govt et al etc .

Just big national wayang show for whatever reason (knee jerk to show strength) really won't help. In the first place, what are the ties btw the 2 countries for- just economic reasons? Why wasn't an extradition treaty talked about earlier (when Ionescu was so free, he had so much time to enjoy himself in SG- wine, women, song et al.).

So that's the problem with the $$$ only mentality of SG- diplomacy only for economic relations, and when things go wrong, all go berserk and cry foul!
==========
My suggestion for such cases in future:

1. Knowing full well tt the requisites of the VCDR's definition of diplomatic immunity and that in the spirit of mutual trust between nations and tradition of is what 'diplomatic privilege' entails, all foreign diplomats accepted in SG should be scrutinized closely and rejected both promptly and diplomatically.
2. Accepted Foreign Diplomats should be engaged more frequently so that they can be accustomed to the local culture and laws.
3. Terms of the VCDR, if mutually accepted should be followed judiciously so that there isn't any confusion NOR nationalistic one-upmanship necessary in the unfortunate event of the diplomat committing some legal transgression in the host country.
4. Relationships between host and sender country should be maintained at a high level, not just for economic concerns but also for other socio- cultural relations- that's what diplomacy is all about right.

=============
Hopefully SG and Romania learn a lesson or 2 about keeping to contract and complying with mutual responsibilities- an eventuality which is playing itself out now only after much rigmarole.

Let the NTUC/Lee & Lee lawyer from do his bit in now arguing for justice to be served, if not in the criminal sense, then at least in the civil sense (NTUC case).

Besides expecting prompt action from the government, people should also demand that due and proper process be followed (that their govt not renege on foreign contracts for the instant gratification of local popularity).

PS:
If only SG MFA could provide their Romanian diplomatic counterparts with videos of the SG court witness testimonies that would make the court process in Romania much smoother, efficacious and save witness the need for many intercontinental flights to testify.

Perhaps the situation can be salvaged if SG volunteers to provide video link-up so that SG witness can assist with Romanian court proceedings, let technology bolster the relations between our 2 countries.

Written in the spirit of good and growing diplomatic relations,
B.C.

[*] Knowing full well tt according to the VCDR's definition of diplomatic immunity and that in the spirit of mutual trust between nations and tradition of 'diplomatic privilege', all foreign diplomats accepted in SG should be scrutinized closely and rejected diplomatically promptly.
.[/QUOTE]

This just proved how naive you are

Geforce3 said:

[*] Knowing full well tt according to the VCDR's definition of diplomatic immunity and that in the spirit of mutual trust between nations and tradition of 'diplomatic privilege', all foreign diplomats accepted in SG should be scrutinized closely and rejected diplomatically promptly.
. This just proved how naive you are

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Good one! "Mutual trust between nations" is a dead giveaway. There is no such thing as mutual trust or friends in the shady world of diplomacy. It is all self-interest, and at best mutual interest, until self-interest takes precedence.

justicesg said:

Geforce3 said:

[*] Knowing full well tt according to the VCDR's definition of diplomatic immunity and that in the spirit of mutual trust between nations and tradition of 'diplomatic privilege', all foreign diplomats accepted in SG should be scrutinized closely and rejected diplomatically promptly.
.[/ quote]
This just proved how naive you are

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Good one! "Mutual trust between nations" is a dead giveaway. There is no such thing as mutual trust or friends in the shady world of diplomacy. It is all self-interest, and at best mutual interest, until self-interest takes precedence.

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Apologies to you both, the said text has since been correct to read:

cherry6 said:

... Knowing full well tt the requisites of the VCDR's definition of diplomatic immunity and that in the spirit of mutual trust between nations and tradition of is what 'diplomatic privilege' entails, all foreign diplomats accepted in SG should be scrutinized closely and rejected both promptly and diplomatically....

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Anyhow, thanks for reading although I must comment that U two are most negative (paranoid, undiplomatic) towards the concept of international diplomacy.

@justicesg: "It is all self-interest"
I think that entering into Singapore's international relationships with such a publicly negative attitude reflects very poorly on Singaporeans, our govt and its conduct- that we're all calculative, belligerent, cunning and scheming fellows with a one-dimensional view to profit; who'd renege on contract at the drop of the hat at any sign of adversity and betray our relations.
> One shouldn't stoop so low as to use the animal kingdom for guidance on proper human conduct/ relations- to do so will be most degrading and derogatory- a sad loss of one's dignity if not humanity.

Perhaps: Proverbs 4:14-27 (NIV ©2010) might be directive of good standards of human conduct in all our relations:

Proverbs 4:14-27 (NIV ©2010)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

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Love, and best wishes,
B.C.

justicesg said:

Good one! "Mutual trust between nations" is a dead giveaway. There is no such thing as mutual trust or friends in the shady world of diplomacy. It is all self-interest, and at best mutual interest, until self-interest takes precedence.

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not only that, also about scrutinizing diplomats sent over, you can keep tabs on him, but u dun scrutinize him and reject him unless he has broken some laws in Singapore/world prior to his appointment

Some updates...

Ionescu's trial restarts in Bucharest

BUCHAREST - The trial of a Romanian diplomat charged with manslaughter after a hit-and-run car accident in Singapore restarted Wednesday in Bucharest, with Singapore calling for justice to be done.

"The Singapore government is still watching what is happening very closely", Anil Kumar Nayar, a Singapore envoy attending the trial, told AFP.

"The most important thing for us is that we want to make sure that justice is done and we have a commitment from the Romanian government as well that they too would like to see that justice is done."

The trial of Silviu Ionescu, a former charge d'affaires in Singapore, restarted on Wednesday at 0930 GMT in front of a Bucharest tribunal.

Ionescu is charged with manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements after a deadly car accident in December 2009 in Singapore.

The diplomat is alleged to have hit three pedestrians while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.

One of them, a 30-year-old Malaysian national, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day. Ionescu is also alleged to have fled the scene.

Ionescu pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing. He has always denied he was the driver and says the car was stolen.

"I repeat again that I consider myself not guilty", Ionescu told the court on Wednesday.

He then started to recount his own version of the events on the night of the accident.

Ionescu insisted that he did not drink any alcohol that night, neither at a reception at the embassy of Kazakhstan, neither at a birthday party he had been attending afterwards.

The former diplomat, who is now working as a consultant, also justified flying back to Romania just days after the accident.

"My departure from Singapore had been planned two months before" for medical reasons and approved by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign affairs, he said.

The hearing of Ionescu's testimony is expected to continue for the whole day.

After being held for seven months in preventive custody, Ionescu was released from detention in November pending his full trial after pleading not guilty to an initial hearing.

The court imposed him travel restriction and he cannot leave Bucharest.

- AFP/ir

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Another one ...

Singapore wants justice in ex-Romanian diplomat case

BUCHAREST - Singapore is closely watching the trial of a Romanian diplomat charged with manslaughter following a hit-and-run car accident in the city state and wants "justice" to be done, a Singapore envoy in Romania said on Wednesday.

"The Singapore government is still watching what is happening very closely", envoy Anil Kumar Nayar told AFP as the trial of a Romanian charge d'affaires accused of killing a man in a car accident in Singapore in 2009 is scheduled to restart on Wednesday.

"The most important thing for us is that we want to make sure that justice is done and we have a commitment from the Romanian government as well that they too would like to see that justice is done", the Brussels-based envoy added while waiting for the hearing to start at a Bucharest tribunal.

Silviu Ionescu, a former charge d'affaires in Singapore, has been charged with manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements after a deadly car accident in December 2009 in Singapore.

The diplomat is alleged to have hit three pedestrians while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.

One of them, a 30-year-old Malaysian national, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day. Ionescu is also alleged to have fled the scene.

However he denies he was the driver and says the car was stolen.

"I hope I will be acquitted and I have confidence in the Romanian justice system", he told AFP before the hearing.

After being held for seven months in preventive custody, Ionescu was released from detention in November pending his trial.

- AFP/ir

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Upz Upz Upz

Confirm swept under the carpet and forgetten le.

even if not will also drag until it is forgotten.

Peasant's lives are cheap anyway.