Socialite Mai Titi convicted of theft, to spend night in ‘college’

Harare – It’s no joke!

CONTROVERSIAL socialite and comedienne Felistas Murata better known by her moniker Mai Titi will spend the night in remand prison after Harare magistrate Munashe Chibanda convicted the comedienne of theft of trust property on Tuesday.

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The State is applying that she be remanded in custody to allow them time to access records on any previous convictions.

Prosecutor Magwenzi is arguing that she is a woman of means and is able to flee.

The media monger is not stranger to the courts, she allegedly fleeced a Harare woman of US$10 000.

Mai Titi allegedly borrowed the US$10 000 on the pretext that she wanted to venture into business but fraudulently offered a hired car as collateral security.

It is said that sometime in September last year Mai Titi approached Rachel Mhuka saying she was in need of US$10 000 so that she could start a business.

The court heard that she volunteered to give Mhuka a Mercedes Benz (AFF9759), which she claimed belonged to her, as surety.

Mai Titi allegedly told Mhuka that she would forfeit the Mercedes Benz in the event that she failed to repay the US$10 000 on or before November 30, 2022.

Acting on the misrepresentation, Mhuka gave Murata US$10 000.

After some days, Mai Titi allegedly returned to Mhuka and demanded back the car saying it did not belong to her and offered her an Audi Q5 (AFG3701) and an expired passport as surety.

Mhuka later realised that the passport had expired.

Sometime in January this year, Mhuka was then approached by police from ZRP Rhodesville, who then seized the Audi Q5 saying it belonged to Else Event Car Hire.

Irked by Murata’s actions, Mhuka then lodged a complaint with police leading to her arrest.

Mai Titi also appeared court on a separate charge where she allegedly failed to make payments for the Audi she had hired from Else Car Rental and gave to Mhuka as surety.

It is the State’s case that Mai Titi approached Liberty Kudakwashe Vazhura at Else Car Rental intending to hire an Audi Q5.

Vazhura and Mai Titi then entered into an agreement where she was supposed to pay US$770 per week and a lease agreement was signed.

She failed to make the weekly payments, which prompted Vazhura to order her to return the car.

Vazhura then reported the matter to Rhodesville Police Station, leading to the recovery of the car from Mhuka’s place of residence where Mai Titi had surrendered it as collateral.

Lately socialites and social media influencers have had brushes with law with fraud allegations been the common denominator.

Social scientist submitted that it was triggered by the pressure to maintain a flashy lifestyle.

Recently , one Andy Baleni who called himself Mambondini was sucked in a pre meditated scheme to defraud unsuspecting cement buyers.

Mambondini is famed for challenging an equally controversial character Passion Java to prove his wealth.

He was also known for flaunting money at a local strip club (name withheld) where he hosted escorts weekly on Thursdays.

He is believed to be also linked to Dreams Nite Club owned by Nelia Kadungure who inherited it from her late brother Genius after a tightly contested estate wrangle which sucked in Genius’ business associates.