Businessman Polonsky’s arrest in absentia found legal by Moscow Court

The Moscow City Court upheld on Monday the arrest in absentia of businessman Sergei Polonsky, defendant in case of fraud in housing complex construction. Appellate unit of the City Court rejected the appeal of Polonsky’s defense and considered the arguments of the prosecutor's office justified, confirming the need in an international trial of Polonsky and extraditing him to Russia to face the investigation. According to lawyer Diana Totosova, Polonsky is currently in Cambodia, since he received the citizenship of the kingdom. On June 14, Russian Interior Ministry investigators charged Sergei Polonsky in absentia with fraud in a construction project in the Kutuzovskaya Milya residential area. Over 80 citizens were recognized as injured parties. The investigators said the Polonsky-controlled company had received some 5.7 billion rubles from investors but later suspended construction failing to meet the contract terms. The company's administration then initiated bankruptcy proceedings and liquidation.