A Thai court has escalated a major financial scandal involving a global pageant icon by issuing an arrest warrant for Miss Universe co-owner Jakapong 'Anne' Jakrajutatip.
The warrant was authorised after the 46-year-old CEO failed to appear for a verdict in a civil hearing concerning a $930,000 fraud case on November 25.
The Fraud Allegations and Court Action
Jakrajutatip did not notify the Bangkok South Civil Court of her absence, leading the court to deem her a flight risk. The legal troubles stem from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by plastic surgeon Raweewat Maschamadol.
He sued both Jakrajutatip and her company, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., alleging they defrauded him during the sale of corporate bonds.
A court statement alleges that Jakrajutatip convinced Maschamadol to invest while knowing of 'her inability to return the money within the appointed time'.
Her current whereabouts are unknown, a fact highlighted by her notable absence from the 74th Miss Universe competition in Bangkok on November 21, where Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, was crowned.
A Pageant Plagued by Controversy
This legal drama is the latest in a series of scandals to hit the Miss Universe organisation this season, making it one of the most controversial in the pageant's history.
Just days before the final, winner Fatima Bosch made headlines after a public confrontation with pageant organiser Nawat Itsaragrasil.
He reportedly berated her and called her 'dumb' in front of other contestants at a promotional event, leading Bosch to storm out as several others followed in solidarity.
The chaos deepened when two judges resigned shortly after the event. Judge Omar Harfouch quit, openly accusing organisers of rigging the competition, alleging a secret 'impromptu jury' had pre-selected finalists.
Fellow judge and former football star Claude Makelele also resigned, citing 'unforeseen personal reasons'.
Further Backlash Over Visa Remarks
Adding to the organisation's woes, the President of the Miss Universe Organization, Raul Rocha, faced immediate backlash for comments linking a contestant's chances of winning to the strength of her passport.
In a conversation with a Mexican journalist, Rocha suggested that Olivia Yacé of Côte d'Ivoire was not crowned because her nationality requires visas for 175 countries, complicating a potential year of travel.
He stated they wanted a winner with 'the most travel and the most contacts with people in the world', a remark widely interpreted as discriminatory.
With its co-owner now a fugitive from the law and the institution mired in multiple controversies, the future of the Miss Universe brand faces serious questions.
