The Criminal Court in Bangkok has issued an arrest warrant for prominent Thai business figure and former Miss Universe Organization owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, after she failed to appear for the reading of a verdict in a 30-million-baht fraud case. The decision was handed down on 25 November, when the South Bangkok Criminal Court determined that her unexplained absence indicated an intention to evade the legal process.
The lawsuit was filed by Dr. Raweewat Maschamadol against JKN Global Group Public Company Limited, listed as the first defendant, and against Anne as the second defendant. The case centers on allegations that the defendants jointly misled the plaintiff into purchasing corporate bonds by presenting a false picture of the company’s financial stability. Court documents state that between 24 July and 8 August 2023, Anne and JKN Global persuaded the plaintiff to invest, despite allegedly knowing the company was facing severe financial distress and would be unable to repay the funds as promised.
The court accepted the case and found sufficient evidence to proceed. Anne was granted bail and permitted to have the case heard without her presence if necessary. After both sides presented their evidence, the verdict reading was scheduled for 25 November. However, when Anne did not show up and provided no explanation, the court ordered her arrest and ruled that her bail be fully forfeited. Her guarantor was instructed to pay the bond amount within 15 days. The court rescheduled the verdict reading to 26 December.
Anne rose to global prominence in October 2022 after purchasing the Miss Universe Organization for USD 20 million, becoming the first transgender woman to own the pageant. But her company, JKN Global, soon faced mounting financial pressure as Thailand’s digital television sector struggled and its dietary supplement division faltered.
By September 2023, JKN Global encountered a major financial crisis after failing to repay a stock loan. To raise capital, Anne and her sister increasingly sold company shares. In early 2024, JKN sold a 50 percent stake in JKN Legacy Inc., the firm overseeing Miss Universe, to Mexico-based Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. The company continued restructuring, and in April 2025, Nawat Itsaragrisil, CEO of Miss Grand International, was appointed Executive Director of the Miss Universe Organization.
On 6 June 2025, facing charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand, Anne resigned from all positions at JKN Global. She later stepped down from all roles connected to Miss Universe. Since then, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu has served as the sole President of the Miss Universe Organization.
The 2025 Miss Universe pageant was overshadowed by controversies involving Nawat, including accusations of bullying Mexican contestant Fatima Bosch. Despite the disputes, Bosch ultimately won the 74th Miss Universe crown. The event faced further turbulence as two judges resigned, citing concerns about fairness.
Rumors later circulated that Anne had converted 6 billion baht into cryptocurrency and fled to Mexico, allegations that JKN Global officially denied on 24 November. The company insisted that delays in debt repayment were due to economic pressures, not fraud, and stated it continues to cooperate with authorities.
As of now, officials are working to locate Anne before the new verdict date on 26 December. Let me know if you’d like a shorter version, headline variants, or social media captions.
