Ionescu trial resumes with surveillance footage from night of accident

SINGAPORE: The trial of former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, who’s accused of manslaughter after two hit—and—run accidents, continued in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Friday.

For the first time, the defence team and the accused saw surveillance footage from the night of the accident.

The footage shows a dark—coloured car running down a pedestrian crossing the street but it was impossible to make out the plate number or the driver’s face.

The car could be seen driving away from the crash after the driver failed to get out to check on the victim’s condition.

Ionescu is accused of hitting three pedestrians in two separate car accidents on 15 December 2009.

The car he was allegedly driving at the time belonged to the Romanian mission in Singapore.

Videos shown in court on Friday were captured by cameras mounted at the junction of Bukit Panjang and Pending Road in Singapore.

Ionescu has repeatedly denied he was the driver, saying the car had been stolen.

The court also heard three audio recordings, where Ionescu informed the 999 emergency service of the embassy car’s disappearance.

The trial will resume on 11 April, when two more defence witnesses will be heard.

Several Singaporean witnesses will be heard on 18 May, via video link.

— CNA/ck