Russians arrested with tycoon in Cambodian blowout to be interrogated

Context

• Russian oligarch accused of forcing sailors overboard to be interrogated alone
• Victims withdraw claims in case against Russian oligarch arrested in Cambodia
• No bail hearing for Russian oligarch arrested for debauchery in Cambodia
• Investigation into Russian businessman's case starts in Cambodia

© RIA Novosti, Andrei Rudakov

http://rapsinews.com

BANGKOK, January 29, 2013 - RAPSI. Russian nationals, who were arrested in Cambodia alongside real estate magnate Sergei Polonsky at the end of last year, to be questioned on Tuesday in court, head of the Russian Embassy's Consular Department Pavel Seskanov told RIA Novosti.
He stated that the two Russians in question are Konstantin Baglay and Alexander Karachinsky. The date for the interrogation of Sergei Polonsky, whose personal wealth Forbes assessed at $4.35 billion in 2008, has not been announced yet.
Seskanov also mentioned reports in the Russian media claiming that the arrested Russians allegedly staged a protest action to demand that they be interrogated only in the presence of their lawyers and members of the Russian Embassy.
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, the Russians, 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 the New Year 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.