Photo Credit: Getty Images
A court in Thailand has issued an arrest warrant for media mogul Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, the high-profile co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, after she failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing. The Bangkok South District Court issued the warrant in connection with an ongoing fraud case against her and her company.
Jakrajutatip, the CEO of JKN Global Group which co-owns the international pageant, was due to appear in court on Tuesday, November 25, for a verdict in the civil suit. Because she did not notify the court of her absence, the judge deemed her behavior “could be interpreted as fleeing,” leading to the immediate issuance of the arrest order and the revocation of her bail.
The case stems from a complaint filed by a plastic surgeon, Dr. Raweewat Maschamadol, who alleges that Jakrajutatip and JKN Global Group defrauded him. The plaintiff claims that Jakrajutatip persuaded him to invest 30 million baht (approximately $930,000) in corporate bonds in 2023, allegedly concealing critical information about the company’s inability to repay the funds within the agreed timeframe. Jakrajutatip was initially charged in 2023 and released on bail.
This legal setback compounds a difficult period for Jakrajutatip and JKN Global Group. The company, which acquired the Miss Universe Organization in 2022 for $20 million, has been facing severe financial difficulties. JKN defaulted on payments to investors beginning in 2023 and filed for debt rehabilitation in 2024. Furthermore, Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) previously sanctioned the company for allegedly falsifying financial records, which led to Jakrajutatip’s resignation from her executive roles, though she remains its largest shareholder.
The court has rescheduled the verdict hearing for December 26, 2025. Local media reports have suggested that Jakrajutatip may have left Thailand, potentially traveling to Mexico, though her current whereabouts remain officially unknown. The Miss Universe Organization has stated that these legal proceedings are “entirely separate” from its operations.
