Miss Universe co-owners in Mexico and Thailand face criminal investigations for arms, drug trafficking and fraud weeks after the pageant concluded
MEXICO CITY: Miss Universe co-owners in Mexico and Thailand face serious criminal allegations weeks after the pageant’s conclusion.
A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for media mogul Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip for alleged fraud worth $930,000.
A plastic surgeon accused Jakapong of fraud and concealing information when persuading him to invest in her JKN Global Group.
Mexico’s federal prosecutor announced co-owner Raul Rocha Cantu is under investigation for arms, drug, and fuel trafficking.
The prosecutor’s office stated arrest warrants were issued for 13 defendants in the Mexican case.
Mexican media identified Rocha among those sought by authorities.
Local media also alleged Rocha had business dealings with the father of newly-crowned Miss Universe Fatima Bosch.
Bosch’s father Bernando Bosch, a Pemex executive, denied any connection to Rocha.
The scandal follows Bosch’s dramatic walkout from a meeting with pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil.
Nawat was filmed calling Bosch a “dumbhead” over her social media activity.
Bosch received widespread praise for standing up to Nawat, including from Mexico’s president.
The beauty queen later revealed receiving “insults, attacks, and even death threats” over her father’s alleged links.
Miss Universe was previously owned by US President Donald Trump before its 2022 sale.
Jakapong’s JKN Global Group purchased the pageant for $20 million, later selling half to Rocha’s Legacy Holding Group USA for $16 million. – AFP
