Social media star Felistas “Mai TT” Murata has been sentenced to 9 months in jail after being convicted of theft by deception for using hired vehicles as collateral for a loan.
According to court documents, Murata hired a Mercedes Benz from Else Event Car Hire last year and handed over the vehicle as collateral for a US$10,000 loan. Even though she knew the vehicle was accumulating rental fees, she left for the U.S. without returning it to the owner.
Upon returning to Zimbabwe after her visa was cancelled, she claimed the Mercedes did not belong to her and handed over an Audi Q5 that was also a hired vehicle. When the lender realized Murata’s passport used as collateral was invalid, Murata returned the Audi, which was then reclaimed by its rightful owner.
Magistrate Munashe Sibanda sentenced Mai TT to 12 months in jail for the theft charge, but suspended 6 months. An additional 3 months was added after authorities discovered Mai TT had failed to complete her community service from a previous conviction in 2015.
For defaulting on her community service, Mai TT was sentenced to 3 months in jail. For the theft charge, she received 12 months in jail initially, but 6 months were suspended on the condition of good behaviour. So she will serve an effective 9 months behind bars.
