By Chong Shin Yen

ONE and a half months after the Romanian embassy's car was involved in an accident, its former top diplomat here has been officially alleged to be the driver.

Dr Silviu Ionescu, 49, left Singapore three days after the accident and now, the Singapore police is unable to contact him.

They have enlisted the help of Interpol in Bucharest, Romania, in a bid to track him down.

The details were revealed yesterday during the first mention of the coroner's inquiry into the death of MrTong Kok Wai, 30, a hotel assistant manager.

He died 10 days after he was knocked down.

Two other victims, Mr Bong Hwee Haw, 24, and Muhammad Haris Abu Talib, 18, a student, were also injured.

The court was told that they had been hit by an Audi A6 driven by Dr Ionescu on 15 Dec last year.

He was the embassy's charge d'affaires at that time.

Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum also said that "extensive investigations" by the police have revealed that the car was not stolen.

Said Mr Lau: "The driver of the car at the time of the two accidents was Dr Silviu Ionescu."

He also said that the traffic lights at both junctions were in favour of the three pedestrians at the time of the two accidents.

Mr Lau added that at the upcoming inquiry, he and State Counsel Mark Jayaratnam will lead evidence to show that Dr Ionescu was "criminally concerned" in causing the death of Mr Tong.

During the open court hearing, they gave State Coroner Victor Yeo a brief summary of the police investigations into the case.

The police were first notified of the accidents at about 3.10am.

The car was travelling along Bukit Panjang Road when it hit Mr Tong and Mr Bong at the junction of Bangkit Road.

The vehicle did not stop and, at the next junction, it hit Muhammad Haris, who was crossing the road with his brother and his friends.

It then fled the scene. All three victims were taken to the National University Hospital.

The court was told that at 3.47am the same day, DrIonescu called the police to report that the car had been stolen.

The Romanian embassy was the registered owner of the car.