The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court has summoned six men, alleged to
have been the victims of a maritime attack by businessman Sergei
Polonsky and two others, to explain why they dropped their complaint
against the Russians, a lawyer said yesterday.
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Mr. Polonsky, 40, and two other Russians are currently in detention,
charged with intentional violence for attacking the workers on their
boat with a knife and forcing them to jump overboard.
Ouch Sopheaktra, a lawyer representing the six men, said the
investigating judge had called them for questioning today to explain why
they had dropped the allegations.
“The judge wants to make a report on the reason for them receiving
the compensation because we didn’t inform them about this agreement,” he
said.
“I will bring the workers to the court [today] because the judge also
needs to investigate whether the three Russians really committed
violence against them.”
Last week, the Cambodian boatmen agreed to compensation totaling
$20,000 and on Thursday, withdrew their complaint against the Russians.
Provincial deputy prosecutor You Tithwathanak said the charge against
the Russians still stood, with or without the complaint of the workers.
Formerly the head of the massive real estate firm Mirax—since renamed
Potok—Mr. Polonsky last year moved to Koh Dek Koul, a tiny private
island off the coast of Sihanoukville, where he runs a luxury resort.
The Russian Interior Ministry has launched a fraud investigation into
his company, and co-investors have called for him to be extradited to
Russia over failed real estate projects.
Pheng Phoeun, manager at the Snake House Hotel and Restaurant—whose
owners are partners of Mr. Polonsky in holding the long-term lease on
the island—said the workers were employees of his establishment.
“The reason they removed the complaint is because my boss also has a
share with three Russian people who invested in Koh Dek Koul,” he said.
Mr. Phoeun said that the workers would appear at the court today, but
that they planned to move soon to work in different jobs, so may not be
around for later hearings in the case.
Still in detention, the eccentric Mr. Polonsky has issued messages
via social media, attempted to acquire electric fans for his fellow
inmates, and even written to the King.
In a letter addressed to King Norodom Sihamoni, delivered on Friday,
Mr. Polonsky attempted to bring the monarch’s attention to the “horrible
conditions” of the Cambodian penal system.
He also said he had plans to build a “seven star hotel [and an]
ecological conservation area on the beautiful archipelago near
Sihanoukville.”
“I have great plans for Your Kingdom and if Your Royal Majesty allow
me, I will bring large investments and management skills and bright
people to help to Cambodians to create a better life [sic],” the letter
said.
“When I am cleared from charged for crimes I have never committed I
would ask your Royal Majesty to consider my application for a Cambodian
citizenship. I would like to share a fate, glory, freedom and
responsibilities of the Cambodian people.”
3 comments:
Kick him out!!!!!!!!!!
16 January 2013 6:34 pm,
We kick you out instead because your suspicious Yuon thief, trying to steal his real estate property. We keep an eye on Yuon suspects and alligators in the corrupted regime of CPP.
I think it was a set up to kick him out of the country in order to steal his real estate or to extort money from him. He has invested around $300 million on Koh Pous (Snake Island) off the Sihanoukville coast.
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