Arrest Warrant Issued for Miss Universe Co-Owner
A court in Bangkok has issued an arrest warrant for Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization. This decision came after she did not attend a court session regarding a fraud case.
Jakkaphong is accused of deceiving an investor in 2023. Although she was released on bail, her absence on Tuesday, along with failure to inform officials, led the court to label her a flight risk. The next court date has been set for December 26.
Her company, JKN Global Group, acquired the Miss Universe brand in 2022 and later sold half of it to a U.S. firm, owned by Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, in 2023. JKN is facing allegations of cheating investor Raweewat Maschamadol out of approximately $930,000 during a corporate-bond deal, claiming that the company’s financial status was misrepresented. JKN has stopped payments to investors, causing the bonds to lose value.
In recent years, JKN has struggled financially, defaulting on payments in 2023 and entering debt rehabilitation in 2024, with obligations reaching around $93 million. Jakkaphong, a well-known Thai celebrity and openly transgender woman, stepped down from her company roles in June after being accused of falsifying financial statements, though she still holds a majority share.
Jakkaphong’s current location is unknown, and she was absent from the Miss Universe pageant held in Bangkok earlier this month. JKN has denied rumors that she sold off the company’s assets and fled the country.
Miss Universe Pageant Encounters Issues
This year’s Miss Universe event has faced its share of troubles. A local organizer publicly criticized Fátima Bosch Fernández, the winning contestant from Mexico, causing backlash. Additionally, two judges withdrew from the event, with one suggesting the scoring was questionable. Thai authorities are also investigating potential illegal promotion of online gambling related to the pageant.
Adding to the chaos, Jamaica’s Gabrielle Henry fell off the stage during the preliminary rounds of the evening gown segment.
Background on the Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization was previously owned by former President Donald Trump, who held it from 1996 until 2015. After Trump sold it to IMG, the brand changed hands again in 2022, landing with Jakrajutatip.
