Romania's criminal proceedings against Ionescu entered a 'new phase' earlier this month, when the former charge d'affaires was put under arrest for a period of 29 days. -- ST PHOTO: CHAN BEE LENG
FOREIGN Minister George Yeo on Monday assured the House that Singapore and Romania are both taking steps to ensure that justice is served on suspended diplomat Silviu Ionescu.
Romania's criminal proceedings against Ionescu entered a 'new phase' earlier this month, when the former charge d'affaires was put under arrest for a period of 29 days.
'We understand that this phase, known in Romanian law as 'criminal action', means that the Prosecutor has sufficient basis to link Dr Ionescu to the offences being investigated,' said Mr Yeo.
An extension can be sought by the prosecutors when the 29 days are up.
Meanwhile, Singapore is sending a special envoy and officials from the Attorney-General's Chambers to Romania this week to understand the Romanian system better and render assistance to the Romanian government.
Romania's investigations against Ionescu on charges of homicide by negligence, leaving the scene of an accident, and making false statements, began in February.
The Singapore courts have found Ionescu was behind the wheel when the Romanian embassy's Audi A6 hit three pedestrians along Bukit Panjang Road on Dec 15. One of them later died.
Mr Yeo was responding to questions from MP Irene Ng (Tampines GRC) and MP Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC).
Mr Palmer had asked if the Foreign Affairs Ministry would consider severing diplomatic ties in Romania given a lack of progress in Ionescu's prosecution.
Ms Ng too, had asked if stern measures could be taken against Romania to register Singapore's strong protest over Romania's handling of the case.
Assuring the House that the 'wheels of justice are grinding forward', Mr Yeo said: 'As I have said before, although we are all impatient to see justice done, now that the Romanian authorities have initiated criminal action against Ionescu, we must allow them reasonable time to go through their own legal processes.'
He added that the Romanian government is aware that bilateral ties would be affected if justice is not done or seen to be done.
