Cambodia Suspends Extradition Of Russian Tycoon

Russian real-estate tycoon Sergei Polonsky leaves the appeals court after a hearing in Phnom Penh on January 9.

A Cambodian court has suspended a request from Moscow for the extradition of a Russian property developer who is wanted in his homeland for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars.

The ruling on the fate of Sergei Polonsky came during a closed-door hearing in which the 41-year-old businessman also was released after being detained in Cambodia two months ago.

It was not immediately clear whether Polonsky could still face extradition at a later date.

Court officials were not available for comment.

Polonsky was expected to go on trial in Cambodia for allegedly attacking the crew of a boat after a dispute during a New Year's Eve outing in 2012.

Polonsky was charged last year in Russia last year with embezzling more than 5.7 billion rubles -- about $175 million -- from 80 property investors.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP