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| Court witness says ex-Romanian diplomat had several drinks before hit-and-run accident |
| 3 Mar 2010 |
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Former Romanian Charge d'affaires to Singapore, Dr Silviu Ionescu, had several alcoholic drinks at various venues the night his embassy car was involved in two hit-and-run accidents, a coroner's inquiry was told today.
An opera singer, Korean woman Jeong Ae Ree, who was with Dr Ionescu that night, told the inquiry that she had accompanied him to a function at Shangri-la Hotel on December 14 where he had a few glasses of white wine.
Dr Ionescu later drove her to Clarke Quay where he had two shots of tequila outside a Turkish restaurant there.
They then went to Legend Palace KTV nightspot at Peace Centre off Sophia Road where he had a few glasses of a drink, which she said "was probably a mixture of coke and spirits".
He drove her to her Hillcrest Arcadia home at 3am in the morning.
Jeong told the inquiry that she met Dr Ionescu at the lift lobby of her apartment building the next day.
Dr Ionescu tried to explain to her that he was only drinking juices and coke on their night out.
The inquiry seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the death of Malaysian assistant manager Tong Kok Wai, 30, the victim of a hit-and-run accident on December 15.
Police investigations have established that Dr Ionescu was the driver of the car that hit Mr Tong.
The inquiry continues. |