PHNOM PENH, Jan 15 (Interfax) - Businessman Sergei Polonsky and two other Russians have patched up their differences with the Cambodian sailors who were suing them for violence, and the sailors have retracted their lawsuit, but that does not mean immediate acquittal, a former business partner of Polonsky said on Monday.
"Today the sailors retracted their [suit] application and notified the judge. But the judge said that nevertheless he would study the essence of the case before making his decision. The fact that they've retracted the application doesn't mean the case is quashed," Sergei Vladi, an ex-partner of Polonsky for projects abroad, told Interfax by phone from Cambodia.
Polonsky, Alexander Karachinsky and Konstantin Baglai were arrested in Sihanoukville on December 31. They were charged with violence and illegal confinement, were taken into custody for an indefinite time, and face up to three years in prison.
According to media reports, the six-member crew of a Cambodian boat picked up the three Russians off the island of Ko Rong, from which the Russians were planning to return to the mainland. Polonsky threatened the skipper with a knife, then locked him in a cabin and forced some of the sailors to jump into the water, media reports said.
On January 7, Polonsky said he was determined to seek acquittal. "I'd be able to go free in 15 minutes if I said I was guilty. But I will only go free if I'm completely acquitted because I'm not to blame for what has happened," he said on his Facebook page.
On January 11, Vladi said: "Apparently, [Polonsky's] lawyer has reached an agreement that the crew of the vessel will accept Polonsky's apologies and will be paid compensation. I don't know that the sum is, but it isn't an exorbitant sum," Vladi told Interfax.
"Sergei has always been protesting his innocence, but has never refused to apologize. If such a misunderstanding has taken place and there was a fight, he's happy to apologize - and has, in fact, apologized already," Vladi said.
On Saturday, Vladi said Polonsky was going to seek Cambodian citizenship.
"Sergei Polonsky has sent a letter to the king of Cambodia in which he apologizes to him for the trouble he has caused and apologizes to the people of Cambodia. He says it was a misunderstanding and complains a little about the conditions in prison. He also says that, when his name is cleared of accusations of crimes that he has never committed, he will ask the king for citizenship," Vladi said.
Vladi said the king's office had confirmed the receipt of the letter. "Confirmation has come that the letter has been received. A receipt from the office of the king of Cambodia has been handed over to Polonsky," Vladi said, adding that Polonsky planned to develop business in Cambodia if he were acquitted.