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Ex-Romanian diplomat Ionescu sentenced to 3 years' jail in hit-and-run case
By Claudia Craiu/Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 27 March 2013 1847 hrs
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BUCHAREST: Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu has been found guilty in a hit-and-run accident in Singapore and sentenced to three years' jail by a Romanian court.
In its verdict, Ionescu was cleared of the charge of making false statements, but was found guilty on three other counts - manslaughter, causing injury and fleeing the scene.
He received a term of three years for manslaughter, eight months for causing injury and another three years for fleeing the scene. The sentences are to run concurrently.
His jail term will also take into account the six months he had spent in preventive custody.
Ionescu will also have to pay 38,000 Romanian lei (or about S$13,700) as judicial expenses.
Several of his civil rights will also be suspended for the duration of his sentence.
Ionescu was not present in court when the verdict was delivered. His lawyer told AFP he will appeal.
The court denied the request by a witness to be reimbursed wages for the time spent giving testimony via video link.
The victims' families will also receive no compensation, as they have not filed any requests in this respect.
Muhd Haris Abu Talib, 22, said he's disappointed over the lack of compensation especially for the other victim, Bong Hwee Haw, who suffered more severe injuries.
Still, he is glad that Ionescu did not go scot-free.
"I'm definitely glad that it all went through and he was found guilty. It does not really matter what sentence he has been given because it has been quite some time and I'm glad that it is finally over and we can actually all move on from it," he said.
Ionescu, who was Romania's charge d'affaires in Singapore, was found guilty of hitting three pedestrians in December 2009 while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.
One of the pedestrians, a 30-year-old Malaysian, died.
Ionescu, who fled Singapore shortly after the accident, has claimed the Romanian mission's car was stolen. He has been on trial since October 2010.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it welcomed the verdict delivered by the Bucharest Court after the trial which lasted two years and eight months.
- CNA/AFP/de
By Claudia Craiu/Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 27 March 2013 1847 hrs
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BUCHAREST: Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu has been found guilty in a hit-and-run accident in Singapore and sentenced to three years' jail by a Romanian court.
In its verdict, Ionescu was cleared of the charge of making false statements, but was found guilty on three other counts - manslaughter, causing injury and fleeing the scene.
He received a term of three years for manslaughter, eight months for causing injury and another three years for fleeing the scene. The sentences are to run concurrently.
His jail term will also take into account the six months he had spent in preventive custody.
Ionescu will also have to pay 38,000 Romanian lei (or about S$13,700) as judicial expenses.
Several of his civil rights will also be suspended for the duration of his sentence.
Ionescu was not present in court when the verdict was delivered. His lawyer told AFP he will appeal.
The court denied the request by a witness to be reimbursed wages for the time spent giving testimony via video link.
The victims' families will also receive no compensation, as they have not filed any requests in this respect.
Muhd Haris Abu Talib, 22, said he's disappointed over the lack of compensation especially for the other victim, Bong Hwee Haw, who suffered more severe injuries.
Still, he is glad that Ionescu did not go scot-free.
"I'm definitely glad that it all went through and he was found guilty. It does not really matter what sentence he has been given because it has been quite some time and I'm glad that it is finally over and we can actually all move on from it," he said.
Ionescu, who was Romania's charge d'affaires in Singapore, was found guilty of hitting three pedestrians in December 2009 while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.
One of the pedestrians, a 30-year-old Malaysian, died.
Ionescu, who fled Singapore shortly after the accident, has claimed the Romanian mission's car was stolen. He has been on trial since October 2010.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it welcomed the verdict delivered by the Bucharest Court after the trial which lasted two years and eight months.
- CNA/AFP/de
