Sultan of Swing: Malaysia royal 'divorces Russian former lingerie model for cheating'

The former sultan of Malaysia has divorced his wife a year after he abdicated the throne to wed her, according to reports.

The lawyer of Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan confirmed reports the former king had divorced Oksana Voevodina, who is 22 years his junior.

The lawyer told British newspaper The Times on Monday that the the ex-king had divorced Voevodina using the controversial Islamic practice of instant divorce, known as triple talaq.

The lawyer also raised doubts over the paternity of the couple's son, who was born a month ago.

"There is no objective evidence as yet as to the biological father of the child," the lawyer said.

Sultan Muhammad V's shock abdication was a historic first for Malaysia. Details of the marriage to the former Miss Russia emerged while he was on a two-month medical leave.

The union ruffled feathers in the conservative country, after photos of her lingerie modelling career resurfaced. Voevodina reportedly converted to Islam.

Malaysia's throne changes hands every five years between rulers of the country's nine states.

Voevodina has denied the reports of the divorce, telling local media that it was "an act of provocation".

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