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| Two taxi drivers saw Dr Ionescu at Sungei Kadut Avenue |
| 4 Mar 2010 |
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Two taxi drivers said they saw Romania’s former Charge d’affaires to Singapore, Dr Silviu Ionescu in the vicinity of Sungei Kadut Avenue in the early hours of 15 December last year.
The two taxi drivers were giving evidence on the second day of a coroner’s inquiry to find out the circumstances relating to the death of 30-year old Tong Kok Wai, a victim of a hit-and-run accident.
The court heard that one of the cabbies, Mohd Salihen Wahab saw Dr Ionescu walking towards him at around 3.20am.
Mr Salihen noted that Dr Ionescu was about three metres away from a stationary black car which was parked at the front gate of a building.
The cabby told State Coroner Victor Yeo that he thought Dr Ionescu would hail his taxi and he slowed down his vehicle.
But Dr Ionescu did not flag down the cab and instead continued walking towards Woodlands Road.
Mr Salihen added that he found it "unusual" that Dr Ionescu was walking along a very deserted road, early in the morning, dressed in a black jacket and tie.
The court heard, another cabby, Neo Hock Beng picked Dr Ionescu up near the junction of Woodlands Road and Sungei Kadut Avenue at around 3.30 that morning.
Mr Neo said, along the way, Dr Ionescu asked him how he could contact the police and the cabby told him to dial "triple nine."
The cabby noted that he then heard Dr Ionescu speaking in English over the phone, telling someone that his car was missing.
Mr Neo said, he assumed that his passenger was making a report to the police.
He also said that he dropped off Dr Ionescu at Grange Heights Condominium in the River Vallet area at around 4am that day.
As Mr Neo had a feeling that his passenger was in trouble, the court heard, he decided to print and keep a taxi receipt which had details about Dr Ionescu’s journey before driving away.
The Romanian Embassy car was found at around 11am that day, abandoned at 21 Sungei Kadut Avenue.
The right side of its front windscreen was smashed and the driver’s door, together with the front bonnet were dented.
Other than the two cabbies, Mr Tong’s friend, Bong Hwee Ha, who was one of the victims of the hit-and-run accidents, was also cross-examined in court today.
The thin, frail-looking man was seriously injured in the same accident that took Mr Tong’s life.
It took place at a traffic junction of Bukit Panjang and Bangkit Roads at around 3.10am on 15 December.
Mr Bong said, he had visited Mr Tong at his flat in the area, hours before the accident.
However, Mr Bong told the court that he does not recall the accident, where it took place and how he got to the hospital.
The inquiry continues. |