A court in Bangkok has issued an arrest warrant for Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, amid an ongoing fraud investigation. The Bangkok South District Court announced the warrant on November 22, 2023, following Jakrajutatip’s failure to appear for a scheduled court hearing related to allegations of fraud.
Jakrajutatip, who was released on bail earlier this year after being charged with fraud, did not notify the court about her absence, leading to her classification as a flight risk. The court has rescheduled the hearing for December 26, 2023.
The allegations against Jakrajutatip involve claims from Raweewat Maschamadol, who asserts that he was defrauded in a corporate bond transaction with JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd. in 2023. Maschamadol reports that the investment resulted in a significant loss of 30 million baht (approximately $930,362). Following financial difficulties, JKN defaulted on payments to investors in 2023 and initiated debt rehabilitation procedures with the Central Bankruptcy Court in 2024. The company currently faces debts amounting to around 3 billion baht (about $93 million).
In 2022, JKN acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC. The following year, the company sold a 50% stake in its Miss Universe shares to Legacy Holding Group USA, owned by Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú.
Jakrajutatip, a prominent figure in Thailand and known for her appearances on reality shows, resigned from all company positions in June 2023 after being accused by the Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission of falsifying the company’s financial statements for that year. Despite her resignation, she remains the largest shareholder of JKN.
Her current whereabouts are unknown, and she did not attend the 74th Miss Universe competition held in Bangkok earlier this month. This year’s event faced various controversies, including a heated exchange involving the newly crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico, and allegations of judging irregularities. Additionally, Thai police are investigating claims that promotional activities for the event may have included illegal endorsements of online casinos.
On November 20, 2023, JKN publicly denied rumors suggesting that Jakrajutatip had liquidated the company’s assets and fled the country. However, the company has not issued a statement regarding the recent arrest warrant. Attempts to reach Jakrajutatip for comment have been unsuccessful.
As the legal situation unfolds, the implications for both Jakrajutatip and JKN could be significant, affecting the future of the Miss Universe Organization and its operations in Thailand.
