BANGKOK, March 14 - RAPSI, Yevgeny Belenky. Russian nationals detained in Cambodia last December along with Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky, were temporarily released on bail by the court of Sihanoukville, a Cambodian resort town, the lawyer of one of the defendants told RAPSI over the phone.

"Polonsk's friends, Konstantin Baglai and Alexander Karachinsky, were released on bail by the Sihanoukville Court. Sergei Polonsky remains under arrest. It is not known yet whether he will be released," the lawyer said and added that the court order was announced at 5:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. Moscow time).

The Cambodian police arrested the three men on December 31 on charges of inflicting harm on the crew of a ship heading back to the city of Sihanoukville from nearby islands and of depriving them of their personal liberty.

According to the prosecution, Polonsky accompanied by two friends, who were in a state of drunken intoxication, threatened the crew, locked them in the cargo hold and later forced them to jump overboard and to swim to the shore. The three men were later detained by military sailors, who turned them over to the police. The men have denied the charges, stating that they had an argument with the Cambodians over the amount of New Year's fireworks used.

The judicial inquiry into their case is nearing completion. Under Cambodian law, the investigating magistrate has the right to look into a case for six months, after which a senior judge can further extend the investigation.

In 2008, Forbes ranked Polonsky Russia's 40th richest man with a $4.35 billion fortune. He headed the Mirax Group, a major property development company that went bankrupt during the global economic crisis.