Petition to the Romanian Government
I guess most of you should have heard about the hit and run accident on 15 Dec 2009, 3am Singapore time. The car involved belongs to the Romanian embassy in Singapore. Three pedestrians were hit by the car and 1 of them passed away on Christmas day. He just got married 3 weeks ago.
Dr Silviu Ionescu, charge d’affaires of the Romanian embassy in Singapore, is suspected to be driver of the car during the accident. He left Singapore 3 days after the accident and his current whereabout is unknown.
While a diplomat have diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention, we must note the immunity is intended to protect them only in the discharge of their duties.
A petition has been set up to request the Romanian Government and the Romanian Embassy in Singapore to waive Dr Silviu Ionescu’s diplomatic immunity and hand him over to the Singapore authorities.
Please help sign the petition and spread the words around.
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Diplomats get away with a lot. Years back, there was a jam on Orchard caused by a diplomat (driving a CD license plate car) because he parked on the bus lane right outside UOB near Somerset.
ssumin: I think it’s ok to let them off for small offence like illegal parking.
But this is a serious case. A life is lost here. And the worst part is that the driver didn’t even bother to stop the car and render assistance to the injured.
Nobody is above the law. We should not give diplomatic immunity to people who do not deserves to have it.
Yup, while my example is a more trivial than this incident, I was making the same point. If diplomats want to enjoy immunity, they should be responsible enough not to abuse it. Parking in a bus lane on one of our busiest roads is plain inconsiderate. He could have illegally parked on any of the side streets.
ssumin: True. What to do? There are always people who abuse their power.
I don’t understand. If the immunity is only in the discharge of their duties which this offence obviously wasn’t, why do we still need to ask the romania gahment to waive his immunity? His immunity is not going to protect him anyway right?
Faru: I guess they can always debate that his presence in Singapore is considered his duty as a diplomat.
He will never return to Singapore. Even if the romania gahment did not waive his immunity, there is no extradiction treaty between both countries.
Not saying that it is not possible but it looks a super long shot away.
I believe he is incommunicado now. Gone into hiding. Past cases mean that his home country will probably won’t release him and will wash their hands off the matter.