Ionescu still has 'immunity' Click on thumbnail to view
For more photos, click here.

ROMANIA sent Singapore a diplomatic note last Friday asserting that former charge d'affaires Silviu Ionescu continues to enjoy diplomatic immunity for the hit-and-run case of December 15, 2009.

This is puzzling, said Foreign Minister George Yeo, as 'it seems to imply that Romania is now claiming that Dr Ionescu was engaged in official duties at the time of the accident and we do not understand how this can possibly be the case'.

On the other hand, Romanian media reports suggest that the Romanian police may be preparing to arrest the suspended diplomat. The police there have told Interpol that they have the competence to prosecute him and they have started criminal proceedings against him.

According to Minister George Yeo, these media reports have not confirmed, but the Romanian police has informed INTERPOL that the competence to prosecute Dr Ionescu remains with Romania and that criminal proceedings against him have started in Romania for crimes committed in Singapore.

With these conflicting accounts, the sooner the Romanian legal experts visit us to clarify the situation, exchange views and review the evidence with our legal experts, the better. The visit is expected to take place by May this year.

Singapore has continually stressed to Romanian Ambassador Mr. Aurelian Neagu, that the Romanian Government should not underestimate the outrage that Singaporeans feel about this case and that justice must not only be served, but seen to be served and served expeditiously.

If not, as the MFA statement has already made clear on April 9, 2010, bilateral relations will be harmed.

However, Minister Yeo stressed the importance to be disciplined and to carefully observe due process despite feeling impatient.

Transcript of Minister George Yeo's replies to supplementary questions, April 26, 2010

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: First I would like to commend the Minister for his firm handling of the case. It is important that Romania does not underestimate our determination and resolve to pursue this case to ensure that justice is served.

Can I ask the Minister if Romania has given an indication of how long the criminal investigations would take in their country?

Also given that Romania does not seem to share the same understanding as Singapore that Ionescu does not have diplomatic immunity, is there a higher international body that we can turn to resolve this?

Minister George Yeo: Legally speaking, there is no higher authority we can appeal to. Because of some disagreement or confusion over the interpretation of Article 39.2 of the Vienna Convention, the earlier Interpol Red Notice has been suspended.

This is part of Interpol's procedures, in that if there are differing views, they would pursue the matter further before reactivating the Red Arrest Notice. All these require the two sides to meet. They have already said that members of the Prosecutor's office and Police would come to Singapore.

We told them not to delay this and to come as quickly as possible in May. Let us clarify the position between ourselves and enable the process in Romania to go forth with our fullest cooperation.

Separately, MFA has asked our Ambassador in Brussels to visit Romania with members of our own Attorney-General's Chambers, in order to familiarise themselves with the legal procedures and processes in Romania. We are also engaging a lawyer to hold a watching brief for us in Romania.