Sergey Polonsky, co-owner of Russian developer Mirax (Reuters / Sergey Karpukhin)
January 9, 2013
Russia insists on conducting an objective investigation of the
situation that led to the detention of businessman Sergei Polonsky and
two other Russian citizens in Cambodia.
"Considering the gravity of the charges, we believe in the necessity of a thorough and objective investigation, the clarification of all the circumstances of the incident. The embassy has sent a corresponding query to the Foreign Ministry of Cambodia," a commentary of the Foreign Ministry information and press department circulated on Wednesday says.
The commentary says that Moscow is closely following the developments. "The Russian embassy in Phnom Penh is in touch with the Cambodian authorities, and guarantees the protection of the rights and interests of our citizens. The detainees have been provided with a lawyer and interpreter," the commentary says.
Last week the local media reported that Polonsky and two more Russians were arrested in Sihanoukville on December 31, in line with a court ruling. The reports said six local sailors picked up three Russians near the island of Ko Rong, from where they had intended to return to the mainland, on Dec. 29. According to the victims, Polonsky threatened the captain of the vessel with a knife and locked him up in a cabin and made several crewmembers jump in the water.
Last Saturday it was reported that the court in Sihanoukville extended Polonsky's arrest for an indefinite period of time.
On Monday a posting appeared on Polonsky's page in Facebook saying that the businessman is determined to insist on a prosecutor's probe.
"I could be released in 15 minutes, if I pleaded guilty. But I will get out only if I am fully acquitted because I am not to blame for what happened," Polonsky wrote.
The Russians may be sentenced to up to three years of jail on charges of intentional bodily damage and illegal detention.
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Russia calls for fair investigation of tycoon held in Cambodia
"Considering the gravity of the charges, we believe in the necessity of a thorough and objective investigation, the clarification of all the circumstances of the incident. The embassy has sent a corresponding query to the Foreign Ministry of Cambodia," a commentary of the Foreign Ministry information and press department circulated on Wednesday says.
The commentary says that Moscow is closely following the developments. "The Russian embassy in Phnom Penh is in touch with the Cambodian authorities, and guarantees the protection of the rights and interests of our citizens. The detainees have been provided with a lawyer and interpreter," the commentary says.
Last week the local media reported that Polonsky and two more Russians were arrested in Sihanoukville on December 31, in line with a court ruling. The reports said six local sailors picked up three Russians near the island of Ko Rong, from where they had intended to return to the mainland, on Dec. 29. According to the victims, Polonsky threatened the captain of the vessel with a knife and locked him up in a cabin and made several crewmembers jump in the water.
Last Saturday it was reported that the court in Sihanoukville extended Polonsky's arrest for an indefinite period of time.
On Monday a posting appeared on Polonsky's page in Facebook saying that the businessman is determined to insist on a prosecutor's probe.
"I could be released in 15 minutes, if I pleaded guilty. But I will get out only if I am fully acquitted because I am not to blame for what happened," Polonsky wrote.
The Russians may be sentenced to up to three years of jail on charges of intentional bodily damage and illegal detention.
-----------------------------
Russia calls for fair investigation of tycoon held in Cambodia
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow on Wednesday called for a fair and thorough investigation in the case of a real estate tycoon and two other Russians held in Cambodia on suspicion of assault.
Sergei Polonsky and his two compatriots were detained on New Year's Day after an incident in which Cambodian military police say they forced some crew to jump off a boat at knifepoint and one boatman was punched.
Polonsky, 40, a property developer who was worth an estimated $1.2 billion before the global financial crisis, and the other Russians are accused of assault and illegal detention.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said they faced up to three years in prison if convicted.
"In view of the seriousness of the accusations, we consider it necessary that a thorough and objective investigation be conducted and all the circumstances of the incident be investigated," the ministry said in a statement.
It said it had conveyed that message to the Cambodian Foreign Ministry and was closely watching developments.
Polonsky's company,
Mirax Group, experienced serious problems during the financial crisis
and has been reorganized under the name Potok.
The flamboyant
tycoon is perhaps best known outside Russia for an incident in 2011 in
which Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev threw a punch at him during a
television talk show. (Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Pravin
Char)
1 comment:
Russian sided with these guys who try to murder Khmer. Now I know how Russians are.they are murderer,raper,criminal who think they are supreme the whole of Asia that is why they come to use Srok Khmer island as their play ground. Who give permission for this kind of people to use and abuse our islands. Soon the islands are going to be operated by a bunch of white slobs like it did in Thailand phuket islands. They going to use these islands as a settlement to operate their bussinesses and politicals and spies to their states and religion agendas. It is like their second KGB or CIA or sleeping cells bases or institutions. Its the ultimate 007 agents playgrounds to spread antagonize the regions for their amusements like hijacking these crew boat in the middle of the ocean and make them jump off the boat and left to dead. Kick this kind of racist and inhuman people out of Srok Khmer before more of them take advantage of our poor and kind people. Kick them out to show an example that Srok Khmer don't appreciate scums of scums of inhuman. After all we went through Khmer rouge and we want the opposite and we want our dignity and respect from the world. We might be poor and veronible or weak that does not mean you can come here and take advantage of Srok Khmer and people. You fools!!!
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