BANGKOK, January 14 - RAPSI. The Cambodian sailors who filed a lawsuit against Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky and two other Russian citizens have withdrawn their claims that they were injured and deprived of their personal liberty, one of the Russians' attorneys told RIA Novosti on Monday on the condition of anonymity.

"This occurred when an agreement was reached on providing compensation for harm," he said.

"However, the court is still obliged to investigate the case until the end and to issue a decision," he said. "This is why I cannot say when or how the proceedings will end. But I think they will end rather soon."

The police arrested Polonsky and the other two Russians on December 31 for inflicting harm on the crew of a ship heading back to Sihanoukville from nearby islands and depriving them of their personal 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 have denied the charges, stating that they had an argument with the Cambodians over the amount of New Year fireworks used.

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