Royal official sought over lese -majesty

Bangkok;
Thai police said yesterday they plan to arrest
a senior palace official,who is linked to the
Crown Prince's ex wife,under controversial
royal defamation law

Montri Sotangkul ,53 was part of the staff of
Princess Srirasmi,Crown Prince Maha
Vajiarlongkorn's former wife.
She fell from grace when a corruption scandal
enveloped her family last year.

Montri,who remained at the palace following
Srirasmi 's downfall,is accused of defaming
the monarchy by improperly using his royal
connections to make financial gains police said.

"Montri has claimed that he is close to members
of the royal family to make profit for himsef
in land and business deals",national police
chief Somoyot Pumpanmuang said

The former princess hired him to work for her,
and he has nothing to do with the Crown Prince".

It is highly unusual for palace officials to face
police investigations let alone on lese-majesty
charges,But Somyot said he had written to
the Royal Houshold Bureau,telling it to hand
Montri over to police custody.

Thailand's monarchy is protected by a controversial
lese-majesty law one of the world 's STRICTEST,
AFP