In a staggering turn of events, Mai TT, a well-known social media personality and socialite, received a nine-month prison sentence for theft of trust property, skipping her court-ordered community service, and defaulting on her obligations related to a 2015 assault case.
Magistrate Munashe Chibanda rendered the decision following a careful review of the evidence, including the arrest warrant issued against the defendant.
Masango, Mai TT’s defense attorney, asserted during the trial that his client had no knowledge of the warrant’s existence.
“The warrant of arrest was never brought to her attention. She wasn’t aware that there was a warrant of arrest against her.”
Masango pointed out discrepancies in the handling of the case, citing a change in the location for performing community service from Glen View Poly Clinic to Budiriro, with no evidence provided to explain the transition. He appealed for the cancellation of the warrant and sought clemency based on the passage of time and a lack of follow-up.
On the other hand, Prosecutor Monalisa Magwenzi pressed for the confirmation of the warrant, alleging that Mai TT had only completed 19 out of the required 105 hours of community service. Magwenzi criticized Mai TT for not inquiring about the remaining hours over the course of eight years and accused her of dishonesty, emphasizing;
“She has shown that she is dishonest and untrustworthy as she was insisting that she had never been convicted.”
The prosecution argued that the default was willful, wasting the court’s time and necessitating a laborious search through eight years’ worth of records.
In response to the allegations, Mai TT took the stand and confirmed her knowledge of the conviction and the obligation to perform community service. She revealed that she had lodged a complaint with the police about her community service, but never received a response. Mai TT claimed to have forgotten about the case until it was brought up during the trial, citing involvement in domestic violence with her ex-husband. She questioned why she had not been arrested earlier, given her public persona and known address.
In his ruling, Magistrate Chibanda acknowledged that while Mai TT may not have been aware of the warrant of arrest, she still bore the responsibility to fulfill her community service obligations. He stated, “Even though she wasn’t aware of the warrant of arrest, she had an obligation to perform the community service. It is a fact that she was aware of the community service.” Consequently, the warrant of arrest was confirmed, and Mai TT was sentenced to three months in prison for the default on 105 hours of community service.
In addition to the community service default, Mai TT faced charges of theft of trust property. Magistrate Chibanda considered her circumstances as a female offender with two minor children and acknowledged that she had not benefited from the offense, as the stolen car had been recovered. However, the court deemed a fine to be inappropriate and instead sentenced her to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspending 6 months on the condition of good behavior for the next five years.
The shocking news of Mai TT’s prison sentence has sent shockwaves through her fan base and the wider public. As she prepares to serve her time behind bars, the future of her influential social media presence remains uncertain. The case serves as a stark reminder that even popular figures are subject to the legal consequences of their actions.
The dramatic courtroom proceedings and subsequent sentencing have sparked widespread debate and discussions across various social media platforms. The public eagerly awaits further developments in this high-profile case, which has captivated the nation’s attention.
