Arrest Warrant Issued for Anne Jakrajutatip, Co-Owner of Miss Universe Amid Fraud Case and Pageant Turmoil

26 November 2025

Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip; Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch presents on stage. Roy Rochlin/Getty; RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA/Shutterstock

A court in Bangkok has issued an arrest warrant for Anne Jakrajutatip, the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, after she failed to appear for a verdict hearing in a 2023 fraud case involving nearly $930,000. The South Bangkok Civil Court deemed her a flight risk when she missed the hearing without notice. She and her company, JKN Global Group, are accused of misleading a plastic surgeon into buying corporate bonds, knowing they could not repay the investment.

According to court documents, the plaintiff invested 30 million Thai baht (about $930,000) after being offered what were purportedly safe corporate bonds from JKN. The surgeon alleges that Jakrajutatip concealed material information about the company’s financial instability when soliciting the investment.

Jakrajutatip was initially charged and released on bail in 2023. However, the court scheduled a verdict hearing for November 25, 2025. When she did not appear and provided no explanation for her absence, authorities interpreted her absence as intentional evasion. That triggered the immediate issuance of the arrest warrant. The hearing has been rescheduled for December 26. Media reports suggest she may have fled Thailand, some indicate she is now in Mexico though those reports remain unconfirmed. Her current location is uncertain.

This legal development comes on the heels of a chaotic year for Miss Universe. The 2025 pageant, hosted in Bangkok, was plagued by controversy including a widely shared livestream incident in which a pageant executive publicly berated the winner, plus claims of unfair judging, judge resignations and accusations of rigging.

In the aftermath the Organization’s other co-owner, Raúl Rocha, expressed frustration over the turmoil and confirmed he is looking to sell his 50 percent stake. He described the situation as a “test” and indicated he intends to find a new buyer.

The pageant organization issued a statement insisting that the legal case is separate from Miss Universe operations. Nevertheless the arrest warrant adds a new layer of instability to the pageant’s reputation at an already fraught moment.

For the global pageant community, contestants, judges, sponsors and fans, the warrant raises profound uncertainty about leadership, accountability and the future of an institution that draws millions in attention worldwide.