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Polonsky and two other Russians may face 1-3 years behind bars in Cambodia

Polonsky and the other two Russians were detained by Cambodian police on December 31, 2012 on accusations of the use of violence against six local sailors

BANGKOK, January 6 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian businessmen Sergei Polonsky and his two friends, Konstantin Baglai and Alexander Karachinsky, who were detained in the Cambodian resort town of Sihanoukville, might face from one to three years in prison, head of the consular department of the Russian embassy in Cambodia, Pavel Seskanov, told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

“Currently, the three Russians are kept in the Sihanoukville prison,” he said. “Sihanoukville prosecutor has extended the arrest term for an indefinite period. A court ward in expected soon.” The Russian diplomat expressed the hope that the court award would be issued next week. So far, in his words, the date for a court session has not been appointed.

“Polonsky, Baglai and Karachinsky are charged with incurring deliberate physical harm to health and illegal detention of people,” Seskanov said. “The three say they are not guilty. It is now up to the court to decide about their future lot.”

Speaking about the conditions the three Russian citizens are kept in the Sihanoukville prison, Seskanov noted they were kept in “normal conditions.” “I have visited them. None of them has been offered any privileges, they are kept in a separate cell in normal conditions. They have no complaints,” he added.

Polonsky and the other two Russians were detained by Cambodian police on December 31, 2012 on accusations of the use of violence against six local sailors.