The Securities Exchange Commission of Thailand (CBVT) announced the freezing of bank accounts and all assets of the co-owner of Miss Universe, Jakkaphong Anne Jakrajutatip, who is the subject of an arrest warrant for failing to appear following a trial in which she is accused of fraud.
The Bangkok South Kwaeng court, in charge of the proceedings, plans to pronounce the sentence in this case this Friday, for which it has issued a notice of arrest warrant against Anne on November 25, after the Thai woman did not appear at the hearing.
The court has not yet released new information on the sentence. However, the CBVT issued a statement declaring Anne, founder of the business conglomerate JKN Global Group, a person “unfit and unreliable” for business and accuses him of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds through front men and signing phantom contracts to deceive investors.
According to the agency that ordered JKN’s exit from the Thai stock exchange starting tomorrow, the corruption conspiracy amounts to approximately $16 million (around 13.6 million euros) and includes the registration of false financial information by the tycoon, whose assets will be frozen, in principle, for 180 days.
The CBVT sanction prevents Anne hold positions in public companies and prohibits him from leaving Thailand. However, the whereabouts of the media businesswoman are unknown and she has not commented on her arrest warrant or any charges against her.
“Anne,” as she is known in the business world, is the largest shareholder of JKN, which acquired Miss Universe in October 2022 for $20 million (18.6 million euros) to IMG Worldwide LLC, based in New York.
JKN, owner of 50% of Miss Universe, confirmed it had liquidity problems and declared bankruptcy in November 2023. Two months later, it announced the sale of 50% of the shares of the beauty contest to the Mexican Raúl Rocha Cantúwho is also on the run from his country’s justice system and is accused of alleged links to organized crime.
Miss Universe announced this month a transition process the details of which are unknown, while the courts of Mexico and Thailand are pursuing the owners of the company.
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