Russian diplomat visits Polonsky at Phnom Penh detention facility
MOSCOW/PHNOM PENH. Nov 12 (Interfax) - Head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Cambodia Pavel Seskanov met on Tuesday with businessman Sergei Polonsky who was detained by Cambodian authorities the day before.
"Following the detention of businessman Polonsky by the Cambodian police on November 11, 2013, the embassy's consular department head visited the detainee at the Phnom Penh city detention facility today. He [Polonsky] made no complaints about custody conditions and said he was awaiting a court ruling," Seskanov told Interfax.
A source familiar with the situation told Interfax earlier that Russia and Cambodia would shortly start drawing up legal documents for extraditing the suspect to his home country. "The procedure may take 20 days," he said.
The investigative department of the Russian Interior Ministry charged Polonsky in absentia on June 14 with fraud in the construction of an apartment block. Detectives said he "stole over 5.7 billion rubles from investors in the Kutuzovskaya Milya apartment block project." More than 80 citizens were acknowledged as victims.
The Moscow Tverskoi Court ordered his arrest in absentia and it was announced during the court session that Polonsky had been placed on the international most wanted list. The businessman's photo and personal data were posted on the Interpol website several days ago.