BANGKOK, January 17 (RIA Novosti) - The pretrial investigation into the case of Russian real estate magnate Sergei Polonsky and his two Russian companions, held in Cambodia on assault charges, should be complete within the next several days, one of Polonsky’s Cambodian lawyers said on Thursday.
On January 9, Cambodian authorities launched an investigation into allegations that the three Russians attacked local sailors during an outing late last month off the Cambodian coast. The sailors later dropped their complaints.
The lawyer said the Russians were questioned for five hours on Wednesday while other parties to the case have already testified.
“The decision on whether the case will go to trial or will be closed should be made within the next few days,” he said.
Despite the fact that the sailors dropped their charges the judicial procedure has to be completed anyway, he added. If the Russians are found guilty the withdrawal of the complaint will serve as an extenuating circumstance.
“The defense is hoping for a favorable outcome of the case for the Russians,” the lawyer said.
Polonsky, Konstantin Baglai and Alexander Karachinsky were arrested on December 30 for allegedly attacking six local sailors on a boat that ferried them from a resort island to the mainland, threatening the sailors with a knife and locking them in a cabin.
The men have been charged with false imprisonment and inflicting or threatening injury. If convicted, the three men face up to three years in prison. All claim to be innocent.
