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Rasmei Kampuchea Daily

Publication Date : 08-01-2013

Russian real-estate developer Sergei Polonsky and two other Russians arrested in Cambodian province of Sihanoukville last week reportedly face up to three years in prison if convicted.

In a report from Bangkok late yesterday, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Russian Embassy official Pavel Seskanov as saying the three had been charged with "false imprisonment and inflicting or threatening injuries."

Seskanov reportedly added that the charges carry prison terms of one to three years.

RIA Novosti identified the other two Russians as Konstantin Baglay and Alexander Karachinsky.

A military source said last week that the Sihanoukville Provincial Court had detained the three Russians for forcing six boatmen at knifepoint to jump into the sea and then driving their boat to Koh Dam Long island.

RIA Novosti said Polonsky reiterated on his Facebook page yesterday that he was innocent.

"I will seek for a prosecutor’s inquiry. I could be free in 15 minutes if pleaded guilty. But I will walk free only after a complete acquittal, because I am NOT guilty," he reportedly wrote.

In a statement released in London Friday, a spokesman for Polonsky said the Russians were detained after a "misunderstanding" with Cambodians.

The Russians "were enjoying a private party on a small uninhabited island when their fireworks attracted attention from a nearby military base," it said.

The statement said officers asked the group for identification but "refused" Polonsky's request to retrieve documents from his private island nearby.

It said there was "some tension" as Polonsky and his friends were taken to the military base.