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SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo has said there are due processes of law in Singapore and Romania to deal with the hit-and-run accident linked to Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Mr Yeo said Singapore must take one step at a time and not act in haste. He appealed to Singaporeans not to speculate but let the law take its course.
The Bukit Panjang accident on December 15 last year claimed the life of a pedestrian, 30-year-old Tong Kok Wai.
"Some have criticised the Singapore government for not acting immediately to detain him (Dr Ionescu). I fully understand the outrage many Singaporeans feel over the hit-and-run accident and the tragic death of Mr Tong," said Mr Yeo.
"However, we should never do anything that is not in keeping with due legal process, nor descend into trial by media. Otherwise, we will weaken our own case."
Mr Yeo also highlighted efforts to get Dr Ionescu, who left Singapore two days after the accident, to attend the coroner's inquiry next month.
"If Dr Ionescu was, as he had claimed, not the driver, then it would clearly be in his own interest to attend or to have a lawyer to represent him at the inquiry to present his version of the events, as well as to question witnesses," said Mr Yeo.
Another request was for Romania to waive the diplomatic immunity of another central figure - Dr Ionescu's driver Marius Trusca - so that he could testify at the inquiry.
As both sides communicate on the official level, conflicting reports were flying in the media on the status of the driver's immunity. Some said his immunity has been waived while others claimed it had not.
Singapore's hope is that the Romanian Embassy will act without undue delay as the inquiry is starting early next month.
Mr Yeo stressed that Singapore will not tolerate any abuse of diplomatic immunity and believes the Romanian authorities share this view.
- CNA/ir
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