Harare Magistrate Mrs Munashe Chibanda has sentenced Zimbabwean comedian Mai TT to nine months in prison for defaulting on community service eight years ago and being convicted of theft of trust property. Mai TT, whose real name is Felistas Murata, was found guilty of borrowing $10,000 from a loan shark and using a hired car, a stolen car, and an invalid passport as collateral.
Mrs Chibanda said that while community service would have been an appropriate sentence, Mai TT had proven that she was not eligible for it. The court also took into account that Mai TT is a female offender with two minor children and that she did not benefit from the offense since the car was recovered.
“She is therefore sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, six months are suspended on condition that she doesn’t commit a similar offense in the next five years and six months are effective,” Mrs Chibanda said. “For defaulting on 105 hours community service six years ago, Mai TT will also serve three months in prison. In total Mai TT will serve nine months in custody.”
During the trial, Mai TT denied the fraud charges, claiming that she never gave the complainant, Ms Rachel Mhuka, a Mercedes Benz vehicle as surety for the loan, which she undertook to repay by November 30 last year. Allegations are that the Mercedes Benz Mai TT gave as surety to Mhuka was hired. Mai TT later claimed back the Mercedes Benz saying it did not belong to her and handed over another vehicle, an Audi Q5. This car she again retrieved and replaced with an invalid passport as surety.
When Mhuka realized that the passport was invalid, she confronted Mai TT who immediately returned the second vehicle. In January this year, police from Rhodesville approached Mhuka and seized the car, saying it had been stolen from Else Event Car Hire. This was after the company reported Mai TT for theft of trust property.
Mai TT’s previous default on community service came up during trial when her lawyer requested the same sentence. The court, however, found that a custodial sentence was appropriate.
The sentencing of Mai TT has sparked a debate online, with some people expressing their support for the comedian and calling for leniency, while others believe that justice has been served.
