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BANGKOK, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The crown prince of Thailand ordered the the removal of his wife's royal name after several of her family members were arrested for corruption. Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn asked the interior ministry for the removal in light of charges -- including extortion and smuggling -- against at least seven of his wife's family members.
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On Saturday the office of the crown prince issued a letter ordering the family of Princess Srirasmi Akharapongpreecha to revert back to its old surname after the royally-bestowed name of Akharapongpreecha was revoked.
Srirasmi is the prince's third wife after the two married in 2001. The two have a 9-year-old son and attended public functions together long after Vajiralongkorn was widely known to be estranged from the 42-year-old princess. His request is believed to constitute a move toward divorce.
The removal comes several days after Srirasmi's uncle, a former chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, was arrested under Thailand's lese majeste laws, which prohibit defamation, insults and threats to the Thai king under punishment of 15 years in prison. He also faces accusations of involvement in smuggling and gambling rackets.
Thailand's military seized control over the country in May following violent anti-government protests and has since used lese majeste laws to increase purges of political rivals.
Vajiralongkorn will eventually succeed his father, the country's popular King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Bhumibol, who has ruled Thailand since 1946, turns 87 in December.
