A Bangkok court has ordered a jail sentence for former Miss Universe chief executive Anne Jakrajutatip in connection with a corporate bond dispute, after she failed to attend the verdict hearing and was judged in absentia.
According to court proceedings reported by the Bangkok Post, the Bangkok South Kwaeng Court ruled that Jakrajutatip committed fraud linked to a 30 million baht corporate bond transaction, a conviction that carries a penalty of up to two years in prison. Judges proceeded with the ruling after she did not appear in court and could not be located by authorities.
The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Raweewat Maschamadol, founder of Masterpiece Clinic, who accused Jakrajutatip and her company, JKN Global Group, of misleading him into purchasing bonds in 2023 despite the company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations. The court found that the misrepresentation resulted in Maschamadol losing his entire 30 million baht investment.
Judicial records showed that the South Bangkok Criminal Court had earlier determined there was enough evidence to move the case forward and scheduled the verdict announcement for Nov. 25. When Jakrajutatip failed to attend, the court revoked her bail, ordered her guarantor to pay the bond penalty within 15 days, and issued an arrest warrant. A new verdict date was later set for Dec. 26.
Although a representative of JKN Global Group was present during the hearing, Jakrajutatip herself was absent, prompting judges to hand down the sentence without her in court. She has not released any public statement regarding the ruling. The South China Morning Post reported that she had apparently traveled to Mexico amid her legal troubles.
The fraud conviction followed a series of financial difficulties tied to JKN Global Group that surfaced in 2023. At the time, the Bangkok Post reported that the company had accumulated 443 million baht in debt related to its JKN239A loans. Jakrajutatip later said the issue involved a request to adjust the repayment timeline rather than an outright default.
Later that year, JKN sought bankruptcy protection, citing liquidity constraints, after failing to meet a repayment deadline for bonds valued at roughly $12 million. Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission subsequently filed a complaint naming Jakrajutatip, JKN Global Group, and one of its directors, alleging they “failed to properly and accurately maintain the company’s financial records.”
Following the mounting legal and financial issues, Jakrajutatip stepped down from her roles at JKN Global Group and the Miss Universe Organization.
