The Miss Universe beauty pageant remains under legal siege following its latest edition in Bangkok due to a series of lawsuits over fraud, defamation, and alleged links to organized crime, while the police forces of Thailand and Mexico pursue the organization's owners. Following the coronation on November 21 of Mexico's representative, Fatima Bosch, accusations of fraud emerged regarding her selection, which, although unproven, marked the beginning of a controversy. In Bangkok, a case is underway against Bosch, who is accused of defamation, and another against the owner of 50% of Miss Universe, the Thai national Jakkaphong Anne Jakrajutatip, who has been at large since an arrest warrant was issued against her in November on fraud charges. The businesswoman, founder of the JKN Global Group (whose central asset is Miss Universe), is accused of falsifying financial information and deceiving investors to the tune of nearly a million euros. Meanwhile, the Thai police confirmed to EFE this week that they have 'formally received' the lawsuit against Bosch, filed by Nawat Itsaragrisil, the national director of Miss Universe in Thailand. Nawat accuses the Mexican of lying by claiming that he called her a 'silly girl' during an argument during the pageant, which was live-streamed and went viral, for which the Thai man later apologized. In Mexico, it was learned this Thursday that a judge has issued an arrest warrant for businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, the pageant's president and owner of the other 50% of the organization's shares since January 2024. The Prosecutor's Office has declared him a fugitive from justice and has withdrawn the agreement that had allowed him to collaborate as a witness in an investigation into organized crime linked to fuel and arms smuggling.
