Miss Universe president Raul Rocha in hiding as Mexican judge reissues warrant

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December 20, 2025 | 11:34am

MANILA, Philippines — The drama circling the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) continues as the whereabouts of its president Raul Rocha are unknown amid a warrant out for his arrest.

It can be recalled that in the aftermath of Miss Universe 2025 won by Fatima Bosch, rigging allegations emerged with claims that the father of the Mexican beauty queen has business ties to Rocha.

The MUO president is facing legal issues of his own as the Mexican government reportedly froze his bank accounts as part of a criminal investigation involving drugs, fuel and arms trafficking.

The Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (Financial Intelligence Unit), the anti-money laundering office of Mexico under its finance ministry, froze Rocha's local accounts, further casting a cloud over the Miss Universe leadership.

According to federal prosecutors, Rocha has been under investigation since November last year for alleged organized crime activity, including fuel theft, drug trafficking and arms trafficking. He was among 13 involved in the case issued an arrrest warrant by a federal judge.

Binational news organization LatinUS reported that the arrest warrant was reissued by the Attorney General's Office of Mexico after authorities found Rocha does not live in the address he gave to the agency.

As a result, the agency lifted Rocha's protected witness status and declared him "wanted" for the alleged organized crime activity.

RELATED: Mexico freezes Miss Universe president's bank accounts amid criminal probe

The agency noted that because of the nature of Rocha's work sees him constantly traveling to different countries, there is a chance the businessman will evade justice and not return to Mexican territories.

Investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Mexico indicate that Rocha's alleged relationships with organized crime members allowed him to secure forged documents in order to leave Mexico.

Meanwhile Rocha's fellow co-owner of the main Miss Universe franchise Anne Jakrajutatip was also issued an arrest warrant, this time by a Thai court for a fraud case connection.

Jakrajutatip, better known as Anne JKN, was largely absent from Miss Universe 2025 despite her native Thailand being the host country as she stepped down as the organization's chief executive officer last October.

Anne JKN did not appear in court despite the warrant and was deemed a flight risk by the Bangkok South District Court. Her hearing will now take place on December 26, after Christmas Day.

Puerto Rico has reportedly halted the disbursment of funds for the 75th edition of Miss Universe, which it hosts next year, until a formal meeting with the organization's executives takes place to address a number of outstanding issues.

These include new requirements for hosting, proposals not indicated in the original agreement, the handling and dissemination of informatiom particularly of the pageant's internal processes, and clauses that protect the use of public fund in case of cancellation or breaches by Anne JKN's JKN Universe, LLC.

RELATED: Puerto Rico gov't halts funds disbursement for Miss Universe 2026 — report