A Bangkok court has issued an arrest warrant for Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, in connection with a fraud case. The Bangkok South District Court announced on Wednesday that the warrant was issued after Jakrajutatip failed to appear in court on November 28, 2023, as required. She had been previously charged with fraud and released on bail earlier this year.
The court’s statement indicated that Jakrajutatip did not notify officials of her absence, leading the court to consider her a flight risk. The hearing has been rescheduled for December 26, 2023. Jakrajutatip and her company, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., face allegations of defrauding Raweewat Maschamadol by selling him corporate bonds in 2023. According to Maschamadol, this investment resulted in a loss of approximately 30 million baht (about $930,362).
JKN Global Group has been experiencing financial difficulties, having defaulted on payments to investors starting in 2023. The company is currently undergoing debt rehabilitation procedures with the Central Bankruptcy Court, with reported debts totaling around 3 billion baht (approximately $93 million).
In 2022, JKN acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC. The following year, it sold a 50% stake in its Miss Universe shares to Legacy Holding Group USA, owned by Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú. Despite her legal troubles, Jakrajutatip remains the largest shareholder of JKN.
Jakrajutatip, a well-known celebrity and outspoken advocate for transgender rights in Thailand, resigned from all positions within the company in June 2023 after accusations from the Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the falsification of the company’s financial statements. Her current whereabouts are unclear, and she did not attend the 74th Miss Universe competition, which took place in Bangkok earlier this month.
The recent competition faced several controversies, including a public reprimand by a Thai organizer towards Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico, who was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on November 19, 2023. Reports emerged that two judges withdrew from the event, with allegations of potential rigging surfacing. Additionally, Thai police are investigating claims that promotional activities around the event involved illegal advertising for online casinos.
On Monday, JKN denied rumors that Jakrajutatip had liquidated the company’s assets and fled the country. As of now, there has been no official response regarding the arrest warrant, and attempts to reach Jakrajutatip for comment were unsuccessful. Her prominence in the entertainment industry, alongside her advocacy for transgender rights, has kept her in the public eye, but the legal proceedings may significantly impact her future and the operations of JKN.
