BANGKOK, January 9 - RAPSI. The Cambodian police in Sihanoukville have started an investigation into the case of three arrested Russians, one of whom being businessman Sergei Polonsky, Pavel Seskanov, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Cambodia, said.

"Today the police have launched an investigation into the case of the arrested Russians. In the upcoming days, investigators will be questioning the alleged victims and thoroughly examining the crime scene, the vessel on which the Russians returned from the islands to Sihanoukville on December 30. After this, the defendants will be questioned. This will take several days," the diplomat told the agency.

Polonsky and the other two Russians were arrested by the Cambodian police for inflicting and attempting to inflict physical harm those on board the vessel and illegally depriving them of their liberty.

The prosecutors maintain that while in a state of intoxication the Russians threatened the crew on the vessel with knives, locked them in the hold and then made them jump overboard.

The Russians deny the charges and say that they had an argument with the Cambodian servicemen over excessive New Year fireworks.

In 2008 Polonsky was ranked Russia's fortieth richest man with a fortune of $4.35 billion by Forbes magazine. Polonsky headed Mirax Group, a large property development company that went bankrupt during the global economic crisis.