By Elena Chong

POLICE on Wednesday said they have evidence to show that Romanian Charge d'Affaires Silviu Ionescu was the driver of the car involved in a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead and two others injured last month.

In rare proceedings held on Wednesday, Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum told State Coroner Victor Yeo that Dr Ionescu, 49, beat two red lights and hit three pedestrians while driving an Audi A6 sedan on Dec 15.

Less than an hour later, he made a police report that the car had been stolen; three days later, he left Singapore.

Hit-and-run inquest in March

AT LEAST 35 witnesses will be called at a coroner's inquiry into the death of a hotel assistant manager who was run over by a Romanian diplomat's car in December.

The inquiry into the death of Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, a Singapore permanent resident, will be held from March 3 to 10.

The victim, Mr Tong Kok Wai and Madam Yenny Young in their wedding photo.

Mr Tong died on Christmas Day - 10 days after a hit-and-run accident at Bukit Panjang - after he was taken off life support.

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