BANGKOK – A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, implicated in a fraud case, as confirmed on Wednesday.
Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, who was initially charged with fraud and subsequently released on bail last year, failed to attend a scheduled court appearance in Bangkok on Tuesday. The Bangkok South District Court labeled her as a flight risk after she did not notify the court of her intended absence, according to their official statement.
The court has rescheduled the hearing to December 26.
The case involves Jakkaphong and her company, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., who are accused of defrauding Raweewat Maschamadol in a 2023 deal concerning the sale of the company’s corporate bonds. Raweewat claims that this investment resulted in a loss of 30 million baht, equivalent to approximately $930,362.
Financial difficulties beset JKN, leading to defaults on payments to investors starting in 2023. Consequently, the company commenced debt rehabilitation proceedings with the Central Bankruptcy Court in 2024, revealing a debt burden of around 3 billion baht, or $93 million.
JKN had acquired the Miss Universe pageant rights from IMG Worldwide LLC in 2022. A year later, the company sold 50% of its Miss Universe shares to Legacy Holding Group USA, a company owned by Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú.
Jakkaphong, who is transgender, resigned from all of the company’s positions in June after being accused by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission of falsifying the company’s 2023 financial statements. She remains its largest shareholder.
Her whereabouts remain unclear. She did not appear at the 74th Miss Universe competition, which was held in Bangkok earlier this month.
This year’s competition was marred by various problems, including a sharp-tongued scolding by a Thai organizer of Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico, who was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Nov. 19. Two judges reportedly dropped out, with one suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest. Separately, Thai police investigated allegations that publicity for the event included illegal promotion of online casinos.
On Monday, JKN denied rumors that Jakkaphong had liquidated the company’s assets and fled the country, but there has been no immediate reaction regarding the arrest warrant. She could not be reached for comment.
Jakkaphong is a well-known celebrity in Thailand who has starred in reality shows and is outspoken about her identity as a transgender woman.
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