The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court has decided to delay hearing a criminal case against Russian property tycoon Sergei Polonsky, his lawyer said yesterday.

“I requested the court to delay the hearing because Mr Polonsky is sick after coming back from a trip to Laos. He is now at a hospital in Phnom Penh,” defence lawyer Benson Samay said.

A court official said a new trial date was yet to be set. Polonsky is accused of threatening six boatmen with a knife and forcing them to jump overboard in late 2012.