Ex–Miss Universe CEO Anne Jakrajutatip sentenced to prison in fraud case

Former Miss Universe CEO Anne Jakrajutatip has been sentenced to two years in prison after a Thai court found her guilty of fraud linked to a 30-million-baht corporate bond deal.

According to reports from the Bangkok Post, the Bangkok South Kwaeng Court handed down the sentence after Jakrajutatip failed to appear at her scheduled hearing and remains unaccounted for. The ruling was delivered in absentia, prompting the court to issue an arrest warrant, revoke her bail, and order her guarantor to pay the penalty within 15 days.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Masterpiece Clinic founder Raweewat Maschamadol, who accused Jakrajutatip and her company, JKN Global Group, of misleading him into purchasing corporate bonds in 2023 despite the firm’s inability to repay the investment. Maschamadol reportedly lost the full 30 million baht after the bonds defaulted.

Judges earlier ruled that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges and initially scheduled the verdict hearing for 25 November. Jakrajutatip’s continued absence led authorities to reset the ruling date to 26 December. While a representative from JKN Global Group appeared in court, Jakrajutatip did not attend, sealing the court’s decision to proceed without her.

Jakrajutatip has yet to release an official statement regarding the conviction. The South China Morning Post reported that she may have fled to Mexico in an apparent attempt to evade Thai authorities.

The conviction adds to Jakrajutatip’s mounting financial and legal troubles, which began surfacing in 2023. That year, Bangkok Post reports showed JKN Global Group carrying debts totaling 443 million baht related to its JKN239A loans. Jakrajutatip previously said the issue involved a rescheduling of payments rather than a default.

Later developments, however, painted a grimmer picture. Jakrajutatip filed for bankruptcy citing liquidity issues and missed a repayment deadline for bonds valued at approximately $12 million. A complaint from Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission followed, accusing Jakrajutatip, JKN Global Group, and one of its directors of failing to maintain accurate and proper financial records.

Amid the growing controversy, Jakrajutatip stepped down from her executive roles at JKN Global Group and resigned from her position at the Miss Universe Organization, a dramatic fall from the global spotlight she once commanded.