BANGKOK, January 25 - RAPSI, Yevgeny Belenky. The investigation of the case of Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky and the other two Russian nationals, who were arrested on charges of intentional bodily harm and illegal detention, will continue, Pavel Seskanov, head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy to Cambodia, told RIA Novosti, citing the investigating magistrate in charge of the case.

"We are in regular contact with the investigating magistrate and the lawyers in the case. The investigating magistrate told me yesterday that the investigation, although in the final stages, will continue for a while longer because he has to investigate dozens of cases simultaneously. He also said that investigations in the Sihanoukville and other Cambodian courts last three months on average, and that he is doing his best to wrap up the investigation of the Russians' case as soon as possible," the diplomat said.

Under Cambodian law, the investigating magistrate has the right to look into a case for six months, after which a senior judge can further extend the investigation. "The investigating magistrate also told me that he is trying to be objective and scrupulous so as to rule out any ambiguities in the case. Yesterday he again interrogated the military sailors who detained Sergei Polonsky and his friends," Pavel Seskanov said.

One of the lawyers in Sihanoukville told RIA Novosti by telephone that on Friday the investigating magistrate would again interrogate the two Russians who were detained together with Polonsky.

The Cambodian police arrested the three men on December 31 on charges of having inflicted harm on the crew of a ship heading back to Sihanoukville from nearby islands and of having deprived them of their personal liberty.

In 2008, Forbes ranked Polonsky Russia's 40th richest man with a $4.35 billion fortune. He headed the Mirax Group, a property development company that went bankrupt during the global economic crisis.