Miss Universe pageant space is dealing with another controversy.
Days after Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch Fernández accepted her crown in the beauty pageant’s latest competition, Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip—whose company JKN Global Group co-owns the organization with Endeavor—has had a warrant issued for her arrest regarding a 2023 fraud case.
A Thailand court confirmed to The Independent Nov. 26 that a warrant had been issued for Jakrajutatip after she failed to make an appearance at a hearing in Bangkok South District Court Nov. 25 after being released on bail for the 2023 fraud charge. A statement from the court confirmed the Miss Universe co-owner did not communicate ahead of her absence, and was deemed a “flight risk.”
The court statement, per The Independent, noted that Jakrajutatip and her company had been sued by Raweewat Maschamadol after allegedly selling him corporate bonds. The plaintiff alleged that he had been defrauded out of over 30 million baht, equivalent to around $930,362.
Amid the legal proceedings, Jakrajutatip had stepped down from formal positions at JKN, although she remains the business’ largest shareholder. JKN denied in a statement Nov. 24 that she had fled the country, but did not immediately address the arrest warrant.
