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Romanian Diplomat Ionescu loses final appeal- arrested in Romania

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  • Romanian Diplomat Ionescu loses final appeal- arrested in Romania

    Since some people have been commenting on the case here, I figured I'd start a thread with news updates on how the events unfold.

    As of now it is reported that he lost his final appeal to have his warrant of arrest revoked and he has been arrested for a further 30days which appears to be a interim measure.


    Romanian Diplomat Ionescu loses final appeal
    Source; Asia One News, May 14 2010

    BUCHAREST: Former Romanian charge d'affaires in Singapore Silviu Ionescu has lost his final appeal to have an international arrest warrant against him quashed, according to a Romanian news website yesterday.

    The High Court of Cassation and Justice (HCCJ) rejected his appeal after realising that Romanian courts of law cannot rule on documents or requests issued by states with which Romania did not have judiciary collaboration agreements, said the Nine O'Clock website.

    The HCCJ ruling was final, which meant the arrest warrant remained valid.





    Silviu Ionescu arrested for another 30 days
    Source: Act Media: Romanian News Agency, 7 June 2010

    The tribunal of sector 5 decided on Friday at the proposal of the prosecutors to extend the arrest for the former business attaché of Romania to Singapore Silviu Ionescu. The decision could be attacked at the Tribunal of Bucharest. The magistrates of Tribunal of Bucharest rejected on 13 May the appeal of the former business attaché of Romania to Singapore Silviu Ionescu and decided that he should still be kept under arrest, being accused of producing a car accident with the death of a person. The decision is final.

    On 8 May, the tribunal of sector 5 issued a mandate for arrest of 29 days for Silviu Ionescu. He was heard, for more than five hours by the prosecutors of the General Prosecution Office who decided to require the judges to arrest him, as the diplomat tried to influence the statements of some of the witnesses.

    “ As a result of the investigation it was shown that using his diplomatic immunity Silviu Ionescu left the state of Singapore and after the accident he tried to influence the statements of the witnesses and by use of texting he required one employee to make some alterations in the car route log so that he could delete some data in the computer at his working place” the press release of the General Prosecutors’ Office says.

    Silviu Ionescu is under investigation for crime, hit and run and statement fraud. According to the General prosecutor’s office on 15 December 2009 at about 3.10 Silviu Ionescu while he was driving an Audi A6 belonging to the Embassy of Romania to Singapore injured at a monitored crossroads two people who were crossing legally the road. The driver left the accident scene and continued to drive the car injuring another person. One of the victims died as a result of the injuries, the other two being seriously injured as well.

    The prosecutors consider that, as result of the two traffic accidents, Silviu Ionescu announced the police with regard to the fact that the Audi A6 was stolen from the Embassy of Romania after 2:00, situation which does not correspond to the reality.

    Silviu Ionescu was called back from Singapore at the beginning of this year. When coming back to Romania, Silviu Ionescu denied that he was behind the wheel, showing that the embassy car had been stolen before the accident.

    In parallel , Silviu Ionescu lodged a request with the Court of Appeal Bucharest to require the annulment of the international mandate of arrest issued on his name by the authorities in Singapore, but the tribunal rejected the action.

  • #2
    So he will be brought to trial albeit in Romania, will be in custody till the trial

    Ionescu to be tried in Romania
    Source: Today Online 05:55 AM Jul 02, 2010SINGAPORE -

    Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, who is wanted by the Singapore authorities for two hit-and-run accidents here last December, will be tried in his own country.

    Romania's General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) said Ionescu, who was arrested by the Romanian authorities in May, has been indicted for homicide. He is also accused of causing physical injuries and making false statements.

    The date of his trial has not been set and he will remain in custody until then, wire news agency AFP quoted a Romaninan GPO statement as saying.

    Ionescu, 50, is alleged to have hit three pedestrians in two incidents in December while driving a car belonging to the Romanian Embassy in Singapore.

    He was then Romania's Charge d'Affaires.

    One of the victims, a Malaysian, died on Christmas Day while two others suffered injuries.

    Ionescu, who flew to Romania days after the accident, "did not stop to let pedestrians cross like they were allowed to do by a green light", AFP quoted Romanian prosecutors as saying.

    "He left the scene of the first crash and drove on to the following crossroad where he again did not stop by a pedestrian crossing and caused another accident," added the prosecutors in Bucharest.

    Ionescu has publicly denied he was the driver, claiming the car was stolen.

    According to Romanian prosecutors, the claim "does not conform to reality", reported AFP.

    In Singapore, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday: "We welcome the announcement by the Romanian Prosecutor's Office that Mr Ionescu will be charged with, among other things, homicide and that he will remain in custody pending trial. It is an important step forward in ensuring that justice is served." ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY S RAMESH

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    • #3
      So I guess that people who think they have diplomatic immunity .. in fact, don't!

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Guy Betsy View Post
        So I guess that people who think they have diplomatic immunity .. in fact, don't!
        Diplomatic immunity isn't a blanket cover - only acts performed in the exercise of the diplomat's official functions are protected by diplomatic immunity (can't remember the specific article of the Vienna Convention that says this however). Singapore has correctly argued for waiver of diplomatic immunity in this instance.
        All opinions shared are my own, and are not necessarily those of my employer or any other organisation of which I'm affiliated to.

        Comment


        • #5
          This case has been constant talking among Singaporeans over the past few months. Since the case unfolded, we still want to see justice being done, Singapore government will NOT let him off.

          Comment


          • #6
            as a SGPrean, i'm glad to see this devt.

            but honestly, from what i know abt 'diplomatic immunity', the critical decision lies with the govt of the dispatching country. Regardless of how a hosting country argues, if the dispatching govt insists in not lifting diplomatic immunity of official concerned, there really isnt anything - within legal perimeters - that the hosting country can do. Romania itself has instance of US diplomat involved in case and US - after whisking diplomat out of country - refusing to lift immunity. Many other egs. What the hosting country can resort to, in such circumstances, is then to resort to diplomatic tools, such as pressures and threats on bilateral relations, trade; calling on 3rd party countries to exert pressure etc.

            Thankfully, from direction of this devt, doesnt seem to need to resort to this.

            Comment


            • #7
              For those of you playing at Home..

              Article's 31 & 32 of the Vienna Convention

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