AnneA Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, the media mogul whose JKN Global Group co-owns the Miss Universe pageant, following allegations of fraud amounting to $930,000, an official told AFP on Wednesday.
The warrant, issued Tuesday by the South Bangkok Civil Court, stems from accusations by a plastic surgeon who claims Jakapong deceived him into investing in JKN in 2023 while concealing crucial financial information.
According to a court statement shared with AFP, “The defendant invited the plaintiff to invest knowing her inability to return the money within the appointed time.”
A verdict in the 30-million-baht ($930,000) case had been scheduled for Tuesday, but Jakapong failed to appear. The court said her absence “could be interpreted as fleeing,” prompting the warrant. The verdict has now been rescheduled for December 26.
Local media report that Jakapong may have travelled to Mexico amid growing speculation about her financial troubles.
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The controversy comes on the heels of a turbulent Miss Universe 2025 competition, which ended last week in Bangkok. The event saw public drama involving a male host who verbally confronted the eventual winner, Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch, calling her “dumb” during a livestreamed event and triggering a walkout. His behaviour drew international attention, including remarks from Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum.
The Miss Universe Organization has distanced itself from the legal case, stating earlier that the proceedings are “entirely separate” from its operations.
Jakapong’s JKN Global Group purchased Miss Universe from former U.S. President Donald Trump for $20 million in 2022. However, the company later sold half its stake to Mexico’s Legacy Holding Group USA for $16 million. JKN faced further setbacks in 2024 when the Stock Exchange of Thailand delisted its shares over falsified and missing financial filings.
