Authorities seized 1.6 kilogrammes in gold bars worth about 2 million baht from a brother of former princess Thanpuying Srirasm Suwadee in Nakhon Pathom on Friday.
Soldiers recovered one gold bar weighing one kilogramme and four others weighing 10 baht (151 grammes) each from a wastewater treatment tank at a sour pork factory in Huai Jorakhay sub-district of Muang Nakhon Pathom district and handed them to the Crime Suppression Division.
Police said that Narong Suwadee, the 41-year-old younger brother of Thanpuying Srirasm, had used money he had extorted to buy the gold and asked Udom Phongphrae, who was close to his family, to hide it. The factory where the gold was hidden belongs to Mr Udom's wife.
Mr Narong was detained at the Klong Prem Prison in Bangkok. He was charged with extortion, lese majeste, detention, theft and illegal firearms possession.
Police said he had cited the name of Thanpuying Srirasm to force a debtor to reduce a debt from 100 million baht to 20 million baht.
The Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced the parents of Thanpuying Srirasm to two years and six months each in jail for lese majeste.
Apiruj Suwadee, 72, and his wife Wanthanee Suwadee, 66, were charged with lese majeste and filing false statements to police, resulting in a Ratchaburi woman’s imprisonment more than a decade ago.