BANGKOK, January 11 - RAPSI, Yevgeny Belenky. Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky, arrested in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, has not yet had his request for bail considered. The other two Russians arrested with him are in the same position. Furthermore, the bail requests will not be considered any time soon, one of Polonsky's attorneys told RIA Novosti in a telephone conversation on Friday.
"The case is in the stage of a trial investigation, which is held by a judge-investigator. Until all the circumstances are clear, the issue of bail cannot be discussed. As a result, neither Sergei Polonsky, nor his companions, will be released on bail in the near future," the lawyer, who wished to remain anonymous, told RIA Novosti.
Polonsky and the other two Russians were arrested on December 31, 2012, by the Cambodian police for inflicting, and attempting to inflict, physical harm on the crew on board a boat which was taking them from some islands back to Sihanoukville, and illegally depriving them of their liberty.
The prosecutors maintain that, while in a state of intoxication, the Russians threatened the crew 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.
On Wednesday the Russians changed their team of attorneys and their official interpreter. On this same day and the day after, police officers questioned the alleged victims and examined the vessel where the incident took place at the judge's request, the attorney said. He also told RIA Novosti that the group of the Russians' defendants had decided to abstain from making any comments on the investigative procedure to local and international media, including the Russian press, until the investigation is over
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.
