From Romania with love: The great Singapore escape by Dr Silviu Ionescu
December 30th, 2009 | 
Author: OPINION
When opposition candidate in the last election James Gomez tried to leave Singapore for Sweden where he worked, he was stopped by the police at the airport and his passport impounded.
The reason? Gomez was being “investigated” for “intimidating” a civil servant when he (wrongly) accused an election officer of misplacing his application forms. Gomez was never charged in court and was let off eventually with a “stern warning”.
If the Singapore police had been so vigilant and proactive in the dogged pursuit of such a trivial case, we should expect them to be even more “on the ball” with serious crimes such as a hit-and-run accident which shocked the entire nation two weeks ago.
In the accident on Dec 15, the black Audi A6 belonging to the Romanian embassy hit three people at two junctions in Bukit Panjang at about 3am. It then sped off.
One of the accident victims 30 year old Mr Tong Kok Wai passed away on Christmas Day after being declared brain dead. He was married only a month ago.
The Romanian charge d’affaires Dr Silviu Ionescu was called up for questioning by the Singapore police the next day. He told them and the media that the vehicle was discovered to be missing by him and his driver at 3am at the time of the accident and a police report was made.
However, the driver said he was sleeping then and was only informed of the car “theft” by Dr Silviu himself. The police report was also made 40 minutes after the accident had occurred.
Two eye-witnesses who saw the face of the driver at the accident scene had described his features to the Singapore police. Dr Silviu was not called up subsequently for further investigations. He was allowed to remain in Singapore for one more week before he left the country. His current whereabouts is unknown.
One does not need to be a Sherlock Holmes to detect the glaring inconsistencies in Dr Silviu’s statement. With two eye-witnesses who are able to identify the culprit, the case could be solved within 24 hours.
Being the prime suspect in the case, Dr Silviu’s passport should be impounded to prevent him from leaving Singapore until the investigations are completed.
Some may argue that the police does not have the power to detain Dr Silviu as being a diplomat, he is immune from Singapore’s criminal laws, but an earlier letter by Mr Sudesh Maniar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Straits Times Forum had assured Singaporeans that “members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps must respect the laws and regulations of Singapore, despite their diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention and that “this immunity is intended to protect them only in the discharge of their duties.”
Singapore is a signatory of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations:
Article 29 of the Vienna Convention states:
“The person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving State shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.”
While the Singapore police has no right to detain or arrest Dr Silviu, there is no clause stating explicitly that his passport cannot be impounded.
Article 30 of the Vienna Convention states:
A diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State. He shall also enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction, except in the case of:
(a) A real action relating to private immovable property situated in the territory of the receiving State, unless he holds it on behalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission;
(b) An action relating to succession in which the diplomatic agent is involved as executor, administrator, heir or legatee as a private person and not on behalf of the sending State;
(c) An action relating to any professional or commercial activity exercised by the diplomatic agent in the receiving State outside his official functions.
This means the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by Dr Silviu covers only his official duties. Dr Silviu admitted that he had gone to a KTV for a “few drinks” with some friends on the night of the accident.
Since he was driving the embassy car for a private function, his actions therefore do not fall within the ambit of the diplomatic immunity. The Attorney-General Chambers has the powers to prosecute Dr Silviu and charge him in court.
Article 32 of the Vienna Convention states:
1.The immunity from jurisdiction of diplomatic agents and of persons enjoying immunity under article 37 may be waived by the sending State.
2. Waiver must always be express.
Even if Dr Silviu is protected by his diplomatic immunity, the Singapore authorities can apply for a waival directly to the Romanian government. They had more than one week to do so, but did not.
The Singapore police appears to be nonchalant about the case and dragging its feet about it – two weeks later, one victim had died, another still in ICU, the prime suspect had fled the country and they are still “investigating”.
It is not known if Singapore has any extradition treaty with Romania which is part of the European Union. Even if there is, it may not be possible to track Dr Silviu down easily in such a vast country like Romania. Besides he can easily make his way from Romania to neighboring countries like Russia and Bulgaria.
Drink-driving is a serious offence in Singapore with many offenders being jailed in the past including Mediacorp artiste Christopher Lee and a Consultant Radiologist from KK Children and Women Hospital. If the driver were a Singapore, he would have been charged in court and jailed a long time ago.
Due to intense public interest in this case, the Singapore police should explain the following to the public:
1. Why wasn’t the passport of Dr Silviu impounded when he is the prime suspect?
2. Was a waival of diplomatic immunity put in officially to the Romanian government?
3. Why did they they so long to investigate the case?
4. What are their findings?
5. What are they going to do next to bring the culprit to justice?
If Dr Silviu is able to get away with his atrocious crime which had already robbed the life of one innocent young man, what message is the Singapore police sending to the rest of Singapore? That there are two sets of laws in Singapore – one for locals and another one for diplomats?
The Attorney-General Chambers should spend more time and energy on important cases like this instead of going after opposition members and activists over trivial matters.
Five ordinary Singaporeans who happened to be supporters of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), were charged for “illegal procession” in 2006 when all they did is to walk from one point to another in public except that they wore T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Democracy Now!”
A district judge had earlier acquitted the five of them, but the Attorney-General Chambers had since filed an appeal against the decision. The case will be heard again in January next year. Nobody knows how much precious public resources have been poured into this and other cases involving SDP members so far.
While the Singapore police is still happily “investigating” the case, Dr Silviu Ionescu is probably sharing his “great Singapore escape” with his friends high up in some mountain chalet in Romania and having a good laugh about it.
Related articles:
1. Singapore police has not ruled out Dr Silviu Ionescu as a suspect in its investigations
2. Romanian diplomat suspected to be driver of Audi in hit and run accident at Bukit Panjang
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Good point abt the immunity and passport.it pays to read TR. singapore is no longer a colony, the police shouldn’t preach double-standards.
As sherlock holmes say:the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
“The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
“That was the curious incident”
“when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”
They should make a movie “Escape from Sinkapore: Flight to freedom”
you will be surprised the drink driving and knocking someone down is not that BIG a crime
you have one guy got 12 weeks for drink driving and killing someone. another got 1 year for killing someone.
then you have drug addicts getting 1 year for just taking a sniff at home without any harm to society.
lol
lol cy what has singapore being a british colony in the past has to do with this romanian guy?
all countries offer diplomats diplomatic immunity, colonies or not lol.
let me guess, you are an old man, who cannot speak and write in english properly, living in your fantasy world of the 1960s or 50s. a lot of the older singapore generation are like that
i had a good laugh recently when i saw lee kuan yew on a university forum telling the university kids what a hard life he has had. telling the kids how lucky they are these days. haha. here is a multi millionaire, living in a big house with servants and bodyguards telling singaporean kids what a good life they have living in their hdbs hahahaha
I’m sure someone “Close one eye” to let the vampire escape.
Now that he is gone easier to face the public.
i wonder whether there is really ‘intense interest’ from the public about this case…
nevertheless… would be interesting to find out the reason why Dr Slviu was allowed to leave. but i wouldn’t be holding my breath for the answer. considering that this has to do with foreign relations and the government won’t release too much because of what they would perceive as the ’sensitive nature’ of such foreign relations matters…
Make Mr James Gomez the minister when opposition win the election.
He will be treated differently by the police if he accused an election officer of misplacing his application forms.
Mr Gomez for sure is able to travel freely but the election officer will be reprimanded for not doing the job probably.
The greatest escape of Singapore is not of Mas Selamat but the greatest escape comes from Silviu Ionescu because he escape while the Police is pending investigation and watching him with their eyes wide open.
All they needed to do was search the car for forensic evidence. After 10 seasons of CSI, everyone knws even a shred of hair can produce enough evidence plus eyewitness accounts,including a brave citizen who tried to throw a rock to stop it bfore the third hit n run, presents an iron-clad case. what does the Home Affairs say abt all this?
whatever it is,this is an educated person,a holder of a PHD.
He should behave more appropraitely,first by not getting himself drunk like this and secondly,speeding off uncaringly,like some gangster truck-driver?
more seriously,this DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY was assigned in 1961
at the Vienna Convevtion.Between 1961 and 2009,even PRC’s myriad of cyclists have switched to driving motor-vehicles.
along the way,many other facets of life has changed,from finance to commerce,from type-writers to computers.
so,i strongly opine that this 1961 decree needs to be re-convened.
the elites and rich merely use globalisation as an excuse to
exploit workers and everyhting else to their benefits…why are they not aware that the guidelines for such decree are
probably outdated,not with the changing landscape?..,or they
can even keep a “dinosaur” insofar as it serves their selfish
interests?!!!
Your report not accurate. He did not stay in Singapore for 1 more week. He left on 18th. Just 3 days after the accident.
>>His current whereabouts is unknown
…amazing tale
The police is incompetent,Wong KS has to answer for it.The victims got the right to sue the govt
I hope Count Dracula from Transylvania in Romania hunt for him every day high & low without fail till he gets caught. And for his entire blood reserve to be suctioned out of this big, fat & baldy chap’s body with the sharp incisors of Count Dracula!
Go Count Dracula, Go finish him off!
We must remember that if a Singaporean diplomat did the above mentioned in Romania, he would be subject to the same preferrable treatment.
HAHA HE IS NOT UNIQUE.
MANY FOREIGNERS FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WOULD RATHER STAND TRIAL IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES.
NICK LESSON WAS BEGGING TO STAND TRIAL IN THE UK OR GERMANY
THE AUSTRALIAN MCREA ALSO FOUGHT EXTRADITION TO SINGAPORE IN HONG KONG FOR 3 LONG YEARS.
THEY ALL KNOW THAT SINGAPORE IS FAMOUS FOR HANDING OUT VERY HARSH SENTENCES.
AND THE PRISON CONDITIONS IN SINGAPORE IS VERY HARSH COMPARED TO SAY BRITAIN, OR GERMANY OR ALMOST ALL OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRY.
NICK LESSON IN BRITISH PRISON WOULD BE WATCHING TV ON HIS SOFT COUCH IF HE BEHAVES WELL. HE CAN PLAY PSP, OR EVEN GO AND SWIM IN THE PRISON POOL.
IN SINGAPORE, EVEN IF NICK BOY BOY BEHAVES WELL, HE WOULD TOSSED A CHOCOLATE SWEET BY THE PRISON WARDENS AS A REWARD HAHAHA. OR GIVEN AN OPEN VISIT, HAHA, SOMETHING WHICH HE WOULD HAVE AS A BASIC RIGHT IN BRITAIN.
HE WOULD BE SLEEPING ON HARD CONCRETE WITH NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT STARING AT THE WALLS. IF HE IS LUCKY HE GETS TO WORK AT REPETITIVE BORING JOBS LIKE THE LAUNDRY HAHA.
TAKE CLOTHES OUT, PUT CLOTHES IN, REPEAT FOR 8 HOURS A DAY, FOR 5 YEARS! LOL
READ NICK LEESON’S BOOK ABOUT HOW HIS CELL MATES OFTEN WERE RIVAL GANG MEMBERS YELLING AT EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME. HOW HE HAD TO BEG FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION BEFORE FINALLY GETTING TO HOSPITAL WHERE HIS CANCER WAS DIAGNOSED.
HOW MANY SINGAPOREAN INMATES WENT CRAZY AND CRACKED THEIR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL, THEN WERE THEN HANDCUFFED TO METAL BEDS, GIVEN ANTI PYSCHOTIC MEDICATION WHICH SOMETIMES RESULTS THEM IN HAVING “FITS”.
IN SERIOUS CASE, THESE “FITS” OR DYSKENESIA CAN EVEN LAST FOR LIFE IF THE ANTI PYSCHOTIC MEDS ARE ADMINISTERED IN HIGH ENOUGH DOSAGE OR FOR A LONG ENOUGH PERIOD.
If I were the victims family, I’d meet my MP and demand action otherwise will spread the message that she is useless to her constituents.
Innocent lives have been traumatised! Whether Dr. Siviu is a suspect or not, his’ assistance and co-operation is definitely needed. And indeed, if it is true that Dr. Siviu’s driver statement does not match that of Dr. Siviu, why then allowed Dr. Siviu to leave Singapore, when investigations are still ongoing? Perhaps someone who is experienced in such matters can explain! How about Mr. Lionel De Souza?
soon they will send a replacement for this Siviu guy.
this is the man made law, Bro. It is part of parcel living in singapore. I support your point. My advice gat to use with it. Will come out new law maybe in future. for Singaporean & for F.T.
If a family member of a minister or MP was injured or killed, the police would have acted faster!
NO NO NO, Again wrong.
“Since he was driving the embassy car for a private function, his actions therefore do not fall within the ambit of the diplomatic immunity. The Attorney-General Chambers has the powers to prosecute Dr Silviu and charge him in court.”
That is NOT TRUE. The Attorney-General Chambers has NO powers to prosecute Dr Silviu and charge him in court for ANY CRIMINAL OFFENCE, unless the immunity is waived.
Article 30 of the Vienna Convention states:
A diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State. <<< This is DEFINITE and NON-SUBJECTIVE. A Diplomat is IMMUNE to ALL CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS regardless of the offence he commits, even if he is SPYING. PERIOD
He shall also enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction, except in the case of …….
Civil action is subjective and the Diplomat can be sued if he was acting as an agent of, proxy, owner or holder in his OWN personal capacity pertaining to business and properties ONLY.
under pap engineering, singaporeans’ lives are cheap cheap cheap…
dun complain leh, you voted for these leechers leh
guys, frankly, i was all along neutral to the political situation in singapore. however,through the years, i am absolutely disgusted by the sheer arrogance of these people running the shows.
opposition parties are not united and do not have administrative experience unlike the ruling party. i do not wish to see an outright takeover. what i hope to see is, more good opposition men in the parliament. check and balance. so that the government will take care of ITS peopl first, instead of behaving like a whore to offsprings from other countries.
do you think these people will be loyal ? do you think they really want to make singapore their permanent homes ? Do you REALLY think they are here to contribute to Singapore for generations ?
No. No and No.
Once the opportunity for a greencard arrives, the customer will withdraw his manhood from the whore, leaving the pimp widemouth.
And us,poor little legimate sons of this soil, will stay behind and take the sh]t.
Singapore, the whore of SEA ? I am sad to say this but, yes,apparently so.
i thought he is a prime suspect. regardless of diplomatic immunity, the police should have compounded his passport, conducted investigations and uncover the truth. thereafter let him off when the clauses are invoked.
one possibility is that they know the truth early, allow him to leave, then release splash the diplomatic immunity stuffs all over the papers to show that it’s futile even if they detain him.
Wong Kan Seng and the Home Affairs should be voted worst minister and ministry for 2009.
1. Mas Selamat Escape.
2. Wrong Passport can clear customs.
3. Diplomat allowed to leave during ongoing investigation.
WTF!
wattodo is right, that is why it takes the authority donkey years to build the half height doors at MRT stations…, after many cheap lives was loss.
This is shocking! This will greatly affect the reputation of the Singapore Police Force, the competence of our ministers and the reputation of Singapore. Our govt must act faster to preserve what we have built up over the years.
I thought only the romanian police is corrupt and inefficent. I am surprised, even on the other part of the earth is same. Sorry guys, but is same everywhere. We also had a case just like this one, several years ago, with a marine officer from US Ambassy. That guy it was well punished by US justice, now it work for US GOV in Berlin.
All the best,
Vlad
thanks for continuing to keep these important questions emphasised.
the whole case reads like a quick getaway which was probably expedited by MHA closing one of its many eyes, but as a reader i wouldn’t come to such quick conclusions because they were or weren’t “explicitly stated”, as the article explains. and definitions of “official functions” are shaky and subjective beyond the efforts of many lawmakers, corrupt or uncorrupt.
the following questions probably aren’t going to be answered, but:
is the person who interpreted the clauses and wrote this article a lawyer? has he been trained or does he have knowledge of such clauses to judge what rights the government has or doesn’t have?
A man who supposedly thrreatened a PAP MP was arrested and charged in court wihin 2 days.
Here, the police let a prime suspect escape by not impounding his passport. Are the lives of Lesser Mortals less important than those of the ruling elite????
Are we in George Orwell’s Animal Farm???
I wonder how different this incident would have developed if the victims were the loved ones of senior PAP cadres.
If you look at Article 30c again it said immunity is not granted if it is
c) An action relating to any professional or commercial activity exercised by the diplomatic agent in the receiving State outside his official functions.
Whilst Temasek Review emphaised in bold the 2nd half of the clause, i would like to do same to the first half of the clause as above.
The clause specifically restricts the interpretation of immunity exception, to :professional and commercial activities: only – NOT PRIVATE activities. Don’t even proceed to the 2nd half of the clause if the first half of the clause is not analysed, because it falls outside the discussion.
So for clause 30, if i can give a less emotionally charged example, if the diplomat took out a knife and harmed someone,outside office hours, he is immune. But if during an Official Function embassy function at the Istana, he took out a knife harmed that same someone, then he is liable.
Therefore since the alleged defendant was clearly neither in his professional capacity nor doing any commercial stuffs, in the subject case, it seems that he still enjoys immunity from “criminal jurisdiction ” which was the subject of Clause 30 as quoted in the first line of the Article 30.
What is the point of impounding the passport? What does it achieve? The law as stated in the clause 30 does not give exception to the current situation at all. You could hold the person for questioning, but in theory at least he is only bound by his own conscience to entertain you!!
What is the point of condemning the Singapore Police – the laws are not fair, but its international Vienna Convention, there is nothing to do about it. Articles in the blog should be fair and reasonable. If the Vienna Convention is unreasonable, there is nothing we can do about it. The hapless victim might as well consider themeselves killed by an act of God as in lightning strike. Sad, but what can we do as we are bound by the Vienna Convention.
zero
I don think the police can arrest him if he was in their embassy. As always, the govt will only bully singaporeans, but allow their own, foreigners and non local communists to get away, even with murder.
For all you know, someone in our courts may have advise Silviu to do just that.
@zero
VIENNA CONVENTION dated 1961.
this accident 2009.
even PRC has more cars on the roads.
india too?
besides other “considerations”,even if this DR silviu(so educated) is finally immuned from arrest and detention,the
reputable SPF with so many talents,should have been able to
ensure full co-operation from the “suspect” to investigate
the whole incident?this is common sense and fundamental practice.
whatever it is,the victims’ families got the right to seek justice from our honest globally recognised gahmen.
what’s the use of “blowing our trumpets” at world forums like
the UN nut when it comes to real action,we sit still?
is our gahmen leaders good only at lambasting our own people
not only on home ground but internationally and when it comes for them to protecting the citizens and the country’s HONOUR,
they become “tongue-tied”?
do we vote them for them to behave condescendantly on us or for them to serve our interests and that of our Nation?
now,who is in actuality,LESS hard driving and LESS hard striving…we don’t need “N A T O”,WE NEED STRONG TRUE BLUE SINGAPOREAN LEADERS!
The way this CASE is going to be handled would in no small way
demonstrate the sincerity and capability of our reputable gahmen who even win the case of the light-house at the International Arbitration Court against our long time neighbour?
Maju-lah SINGAPURA!
In a case like that,
The injured party should sue the govt of Singapore for compensation. If we are to assume that the relationship between the two countries are mutually beneficial to both parties, it is perfectly reasonable to ask for redress from the Singapore govt since this is a result of it’s poor choice of partnership with a nation who saw fit to appoint a drunk diplomat.
I don’t expect much from this govt, other than to say again lets move on.
@zero, PRECISELY what I have been trying to say the WHOLE WEEK, short of disecting individual clause like what you have done but it was a good move, giving readers a clearer picture of why the Diplomat CANNOT be charged under Criminal Law AT ALL.
@jiangbao, very true and correct. The Romanian Embassy belongs to Romania, not Sinkapore, thus the ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT agencies in Sinkapore have NO POWERS over ANYTHING that happens INSIDE the Embassy nor can they take anything from the Embassy without the EXPRESS PERMISSION of the Romanian Gahment.
If any offence is comitted WITHIN the compound of the Romanian Embassy, it falls under the Law of Romania unless that jurisdiction is surrendered over to Sinkapore EXPRESSLY. So say some Romain staff murder a Sinkapore in the Embassy, Romania will have jurisdiction to try the offender, NOT Sinkapore.
@Mic O Mic, technically they CAN SUE the gahment but (kangaroos aside), the Police would have to ascertain that the Diplomat was INDEED the culprit of the hit and run accident, which ironically will NEVER HAPPEN even if the Diplomat was INDEED the offender.
System will spin, wayang and delay until Sinkaporeans FORGET and MOVE ON. Don’t believe me? Lets watch and see, if we can still remember after a few monthfs, that is.
Anyway for discussion sake, ASSSUMING that the Diplomat is INDEED the culprit, then someone from some agency in Sinkapore will most likely approach the family of the victims (quietly) and (silently, off the record) offer some few thousand dollars in money and in kind to close the case.
Wow, so many purported experts in Public International Law speaking here, when only about 2 of the ones commenting know how diplomatic immunity works!
Singkapore: I think you are wrong when you say: “If any offence is committed WITHIN the compound of the Romanian Embassy, it falls under the law of Romania …”
Are you suggesting that if a Singaporean robber went into the embassy and robbed the ambassador, there is no offence committed and Singapore has no juridiction to try the case in Singapore. There will be an offence under our Penal Code and Singapore does not need Romania’s permission to try the Singaporean in our courts.
zero on Thu, 31st Dec 2009 8:24 am
“What is the point of condemning the Singapore Police – the laws are not fair, but its international Vienna Convention, there is nothing to do about it. ”
Then we might as well subject ourselves to other human rights conventions eg. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Like
-Caning for not below 18 yrs
-Death Penalty at 21 yrs
Why the double standards?
Don said: don on Thu, 31st Dec 2009 5:10 pm (Edit)
Singkapore: I think you are wrong when you say: “If any offence is committed WITHIN the compound of the Romanian Embassy, it falls under the law of Romania …”
Are you suggesting that if a Singaporean robber went into the embassy and robbed the ambassador, there is no offence committed and Singapore has no juridiction to try the case in Singapore. There will be an offence under our Penal Code and Singapore does not need Romania’s permission to try the Singaporean in our courts.
Unfortunately, I am NOT wrong when I say that ANYTHING happenning in the COMPOUND of the Romanian Embassy falls under Romanian Law UNLESS the jurisdiction is surrendered over to Sinkapore EXPRESSLY. I am not talking about whether an offence have been committed or not, I am talking about Jurisdiction. Plainly PUT, Sinkapore has NO Jurisdiction over the incident UNTIL Romania EXPRESSLY surrender Jurisdiction over to them.
So say some joker from Sinkapore went INTO Romanian Embassy and murder their staff and GET CAUGHT IN THE ACT, then Romania and NOT Sinkapore has the jurisdiction to try the joker for the offence UNLESS jurisdiction is handed over to Sinkapore EXPRESSLY.
EXPRESSLY HANDED OVER can be a phone call by the embassy staff to the Sinkapore Police saying a murder had been committed and then ALLOWING the Sinkapore Police to Enter the Embassy and conduct their investigation.
This act of calling in the police suffice for handing over of jurisdiction. Alternatively, the Romanian Embassy can just inform the AGC that a murder have been committed and the joker caught will be moved to their OWN COUNTRY (ie: Romania) to be tried, also can.
Its all so complicate whenever Diplomatic issues are concerned and what I have touched on is only the tip of the iceberg. Maybe a trained lawyer can enlighten us further.
I NOTICE THESE ROMANIAN PEOPLE SPEAK PROUDLY
E.G NOT DOING ANY SUPPOSITIONS, ETC
I HAVE READ THE HISTORY OF ROMANIA
SUFFER IN THE WAR, ONLY BETTER NOW RECENTLY
WHAT THE MOTHER OF THE DEAD HAS SAID IS CORRECT
LET JUSTICE BE SERVED
Some opinions from the country itself:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotnews.ro%2Fstiri-diaspora-6771490-insarcinatul-afaceri-romaniei-singapore-suspectat-lovit-masina-patru-persoane-fugit-locul-accidentului.htm
IN THE DIPLOMAT NEWS OF ROMANIA – SOMETHING OF THEIR HISTORY :
Justice fails for one thousand dead
Romania’s bloody 1989 Revolution remains unresolved because, following the collapse of Ceausescu, the new leaders inspired the deaths of 1,000 people. Report by Michael Bird and Ana Maria Nitoi
“On the afternoon of 21 December we went to Piata Universitatii in Bucharest to protest against Ceausescu. People were shouting ‘Timisoara!’ and ‘Down with Ceausescu!’ when I heard suddenly people singing the anthem ‘Romanian, wake up!’ [Desteapta-te, romane],” says Carmen Alexandrescu, who was 39 in December 1989. “But the people only knew a few lyrics, so I decided to run home. There I had a book of poems and started to handwrite the words to the song many times over on different pieces of paper. Then I went back to the square to give this to people – so that we could sing together.”
At that time Carmen had children aged eight and nine. “Every now and then I would leave the streets and go back to feed my children, while my husband stayed with the protesters,” she says.
Once Ceausescu was flown out of Bucharest and arrested on 22 December, one of Carmen’s friends was given a gun by a soldier. The military told him there were ‘terrorists’ everywhere and he should shoot anyone suspicious. “Before 22 December the soldiers were not shooting during the day, but only at night. But starting on 22 December they fired in the daytime – to frightened the revolutionaries and convince them to go home,” she argues. “Until 22 December in Romania there was a real revolution, but then the Communists organised a counter-revolution
Dr Silviu Ionescu
THE NEWSPAPER SHOULD HAVE THE TITLE :
“THE MAN WHO SHAMED ROMANIA”
COME BACK AND FACE THE PROBLEM IF YOU ARE NOT GUILTY
A BIT OF HISTORY OF ROMANIA FROM THEIR NEWS :
Justice fails for one thousand dead
Romania’s bloody 1989 Revolution remains unresolved because, following the collapse of Ceausescu, the new leaders inspired the deaths of 1,000 people. Report by Michael Bird and Ana Maria Nitoi
FROM WILKIPEDIA ON FORMER LEADER CEAUSESCU :
Ceauşescu’s second decade was characterized by an increasingly erratic personality cult, nationalism and a deterioration in foreign relations with the Western powers as well as the Soviet Union. Ceauşescu’s government was overthrown in a December 1989 military coup, and he and his wife were executed following a televised two-hour session by a kangaroo court
THE SPORE POLICE IS REALLY GOOD
TAXI DRIVER IDENTIFYS THE DR AS PASSENGER FROM KADUT AT 3 AM
THE DR IONESCU COULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TOM LEAVE BUT HE COULD BE SUMMON BACK BY HIS COUNTRY IN AN UNDETAKING
SAME AS IN THE CHINA AVAIATION OIL SCANDAL,
THE CEO WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE BUT CHINA UNDERTAKES HE WILL BE BACK TO FACE JUSTICE
FORUMERS PLEASE DON’T TALK RUBBISH ABOUT SPORE POLICE
MAYBE YOU SHOULD VISIT ROMAINA AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR VIOLENT COMMUNIST HISTORY FIRST WHERE MANY DIED AS COMPARED TO SPORE WHERE THE COMMUNIST WERE ROUNDED UP WITH LITTLE BLOODSHED
9 ROMANIANS CHARGED WITH CREDIT CARD SCAM YESTERDAY IN SPORE
OBVIOUSLY THE DR SHITVILLE IRONCUNT OF ROMANIA MUST HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THEIR CASE
COULD HE HAVE TAKEN REVENGE ON SINGAPOREANS ?
THE POLICE MUST ASK IF HE HIT THOSE PEOPLE AND
WHY IF SO AS AN ANGLE ON THE INVESTIGATION
AGREE WITH THE HEADING
>>>THE MEM WHO SHAME ROMANIA<<<
Its so sad to see how Singaporeans think and can get so easily misled by one really bad article jumping to all the wrong conclusions. Even sadder to see so many poor responses. Shows how biased people are to one camp or the other. I am a neutral and would liek to see a decent opposition. Right now I fear voting the oppoisiton because of the lack of quality… It is still safer voting PAP.
I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY SPOREAN BEING MISLED BY THE EVIDENCE SO FAR, AND JUMPING TO WRONG CONCLUSIONS
TAXI DRIVER IDENTIFIES THE DR AS A PASSENGER
THE EVIDENCE IS VERY CONVINCING SO FAR ISN;T IT ?
WE NEVER SAY THE MAN IS GUILTY, ALTHOUGH THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM IS GREAT.
SO LET THE GOOD SPORE POLICE DO THEIR WORK AND THE COURTS DECIDE WHETHER THE MAN IS GUILTY OR NOT
WHAT THE MAN DID WAS SURELY COWARDLY.
FOR YEARS PROBABLY HE HAS DIABETES, HE DECIDED TO GO BACK ON THIS OCASSION TO GET TREATED AND PROBABLY NOT RETURN TO FACES QUESTIONS BY THE POLICE ?
HE SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD BE BACK TO FACE THE QUESTIONS IN THE LEAST
singapore police force like to wave their big stick at locals but they dare not stand up to foreigners hahahaha
The evidences are all there, just waiting for the govt to act,it is time to do something for the nation, we are all watching and waiting……
I am a friend of these 3 victims and Dr Silviu Ionescu shld be responsible on what he has done despite of his high rank !!!
Tong (30 years old) died on Xmas Day !!! He just married for 3 weeks.. Seeing his whole family so upset on his death, my heart really bled !!!!!
Bong (24 years old). He is so young !!! He is the only son in the family.. how the whole family is going to do without him. His injuries is quite serious and not sure if he can still work in his whole life !!!!!
Hi A Friend,
How is Mr Bong doing? Will any of the victims’ families care to share their story with us?
It will raise public awareness of the case and exert pressure on the Singapore police to bring the culprit to justice soon.
We can be contacted at:
temasekreview@gmail.com
The actions by this Romanian diplomat – Silviu Ionscu, has shown that he is just a COWARD. Having hit-and-run, denying responsibility and making up stories to fool Singaporeans and SPF.
Mr. Wong Kan Seng.. Singaporeans would eagerly love to hear afew words from you pertaining to this crime. By the way, has Silviu amazed in by his stories? Why were the diplomat passport not impounded when he is the prime suspect? I am beginning to feel Singapore is now less safer under your administration.
http://www.bucharestherald.com/worldnews/43-worldnews/8484-romanian-diplomat-suspected-to-be-driver-of-audi-in-singapore-hit-and-run-accident-
Even the Romanian newspaper knows our SPF is not doing their work!
the comments here are so lop-sided, it makes me shudder to think what happens to sg if opposition does win..this is scary..maybe its the anonymity of the internet that makes singaporeans degenerate into “keyboard warriors”.
Can Alfan set up an embassy here and send their famous O*ama here as diplomat and enjoy the same immunity? Nice idea…
And so much for “Drink-Don’t-Drive during festive season” campaign all over MSM… Where’s the enforcement?
It doesn’t make sense… If this guy went scott-free, that says something about our home affairs. And how would WKS answer? “It’s diplomatic, there is nothing we can do…”
Wonder if it would the same if a diplomat murdered one of our KAH…
come on… everyone…
to all who is talking alot… behind the computer….
when the election comes, all you do is to place a tick at the box next to a lightning symbol and toss it into the box and go off… then why bother to say so much here then….. sad to know that singaporeans are only up to this level… ***hai….sign…..this is so sad…
Some years ago a marine at the US embassy in Bucharest (Romania’s capital) caused an accident (was drunk) in which a Romanian rock star was killed. In less than 24 hours the soldier (under diplomatic immunity) was taken back to the US. He stood trial there for several charges (including adultery with a secretary of the embassy, which is sort of funny) and he finally received a letter of reprimand. That’s what happens when you have diplomatic immunity and are a valuable/dangerous asset to your country. And without an extradition treaty…
Most people belives thet the Vienna convention should be modified, but how? Diplomats should not be vulnerable to any sort of pressure or framing (not that this is the case).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4466123.stm
Don’t be fool by the PHD and the doctor title this person held, these are easy to be obtain in country such as Romania and just recently several of his country men comrades has been arrest in our soil for fake cradit card scam , One couple is even being recruit here in our own soil by those betrayer of our nation , And in europe they are known for the human trafficking and drug smugling in eastern europe , just if any one been to France before and there’s thousand of romanian scatter around France as Mob ……..So we had to be cautious in near future with any Romanian ……To Silviu Ionescu you can happily laught now but there will always be a nightmare for the rest of your life ………
@ Eddie Rahim
If I were to follow your line of reasoning, India is a corrupt country with a lot of crime, so I should be wary of all Indians… Bangladesh would fall into the same category… And Malaysia… Yet we all know there are outstanding Indian, Bangladeshi, and Malaysian people out there…
Do you mean to say, that as you wander the streets of Singapore, you keep an eye on all the Indians, Malays, and Bangladeshis around you and fear for your safety?
well if Mr Sudesh Maniar was so well versed in the knowledge of law, why is he speaking his mind now and had not taken a more active role. maybe what had been mentioned could have been prevented.
TIME LOG OF EVENT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE ACTION SUCH AS IMPOUNDING OF PASSPORT CAN BE DONE. PRIME MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH TO TIE ONE DOWN.
More thoughts should be put in place. thread lightly we must in diplomat cases, they are still people placed by their own country with great trust and , bearing dignity of their country to work in our country.
dignity and respect to a country cannot be compared to just one ordinary person. <- this is true no matter : country should and will always come before any individual