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Arrested in Cambodia Polonsky may be released in next few days

The source noted the request from the Russian businessman to grant Cambodian citizenship to him will be settled positively
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

HANOI, January 23 (Itar-Tass) — Arrested in Cambodia Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky may be released from custody in next few days, an informed source told Itar-Tass on Wednesday in the littoral city Sihanoukville, where Polonsky, Konstantin Baglai and Alexander Karachinsky are being kept in prison.

They are expected to be released from custody in next few days – on Wednesday or on Thursday. “No indictments were made against them, and it is absolutely wrong that Polonsky stated they were allegedly already convicted,” said a source, who is directly related with the settlement of the situation over the arrest of the businessman and his associates.

“Now the issue of documents is being settled and if everything is all right, they will be released immediately. After the release Sergei Polonsky will be able to run a business in Cambodia,” the source told Itar-Tass, adding that the attitude to the Russian businessman in Cambodia is “very benevolent.” The source noted the request from the Russian businessman to grant Cambodian citizenship to him will be settled positively.

The incident, which resulted in the arrest of Polonsky and his associates, occurred on December 30 onboard the ship, which was trafficking three Russians to the coast after a trip on the islands. The crew of six sailors said that Polonsky and his associates being drunk and threatening with the knives locked up the sailors in the hold, then they made the sailors jump in the sea. The Russian citizens rejected strongly these accusations and insist that misunderstanding took place over the language barrier. Several days ago the presumed injured parties revoked their lawsuits in exchange for apologies and compensation.

Being kept in prison Polonsky sent an address to King of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk. Polonsky regretted about the incident and stated that he is ready to apologize to the Cambodian people. In his address the Russian citizen asked the Cambodian monarch to grant Cambodian citizenship to him to have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the kingdom, at the same time to continue to run a business in the country.