Jailed Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky’s co-accused, Alexander Karachinsky and Konstantin Baglay, who were released from prison last Thursday, were granted bail because they were not considered central to an alleged violent incident at sea in December, Polonsky’s court translator has said.

“I think the court has decided to release the two men because . . . it found nothing to suggest they were directly involved,” translator Tel Samuth told the Post on Saturday. “But the court is strictly considering the bail request of Polonsky before making a decision.”

Polonsky, 40, and the 25-year-old Russians were arrested near Koh Dek Koul, a luxury island Polonsky co-owns off Sihanoukville, on December 30, accused of using a knife to threaten a boatman and locking him in a room before forcing him and his five fellow crew members to jump overboard.

The six boatmen later dropped their complaints, after accepting a combined $20,000 in compensation from Polonsky, but charges remain.

Samuth said Polonsky hoped his own application for bail would be heard this week, while in a statement released on the property tycoon’s website on Friday, Polonsky said his defence team had also applied to have the case terminated altogether.

“The application will be considered during the coming days,” it states.

Polonsky’s statement also said the six boatmen never filed charges against Karachinsky and Baglay in the first place and all three suspects were “shackled” after their arrest, the effects of which left Polonsky with a “serious leg injury”.

But in a separate statement posted on his website last Wednesday, Polonsky said the boatmen were “the first to attack me”, resulting in an injury to his right leg.

Tan Nareth, deputy director of Preah Sihanouk prison, said Baglay and Karachinsky were still “under court monitoring”.

“They will be made to show up at any time the court needs them,” he said.

A personal assistant for Polonsky, who asked not be named, said she does not know where Baglay and Karachinsky are now.

“We don’t know. We are not connected with them,” she said, adding that she is representing only Polonsky.

Polonsky’s Cambodian lawyer, Long Saluxe, and investigating judge Sar Lina could not be reached for comment yesterday.