HARARE – Comedienne Felistas Murata, better known as Mai Titi in the entertainment industry, has been sentenced to one year behind bars after she was convicted for fraud and theft of trust property.

The Harare socialite was however ordered to serve an effective six months in prison after the presiding magistrate suspended six months of the sentence on condition she does not commit a similar offence.

Mai Titi will serve a further term of imprisonment for a case of assault for which she was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to community service.

She defaulted on community service and now has to serve the alternative sentence of three months bringing the total to nine months.

Mai Titi was found guilty of the latest two offences on Tuesday.

In the first count, in September 2022, Murata misrepresented facts to the complainant, one Rachel Mhuka that she was in need of US$10,000 for her business venture and would give her a Mercedes Benz vehicle with registration as surety in the full knowledge she was not the owner of the car.

According to prosecutors, Murata later took back the vehicle from Mhuka after admitting that the vehicle did not belong to her.

She went on to give her another vehicle, an Audi as surety which she later took back in exchange of an invalid passport as surety.

Mhuka later discovered that the passport was not valid and returned it to the socialite who then gave her back the Audi.

In January this year, police seized the vehicle from Mhuka after telling her that the car belonged to a company called Else Event Car Hire.

Prosecutors proved Murata exhibited an intention to deceive the complainant who then was prejudiced of US$10,000 cash which she never recovered.

In the second count, the car rental company was the complainant represented by its director Liberty Vazhura who reported the theft of trust property against the comedienne.

The court heard Mai Titi approached the complainant intending to hire an Audi Q5 motor vehicle.

“She allegedly entered into an agreement to make some weekly payments of US$770 and a lease agreement was signed.

“The accused failed to make the weekly payments and was ordered to return the vehicle by the complainant,” read court papers.

Court was told Murata later became evasive forcing the car rental company to report the matter to the police.

Investigations were carried out leading to the recovery of the motor vehicle from Mhuka’s residence.

The socialite has been struggling to settle thousands of dollars owed to people who helped her finance her lavish wedding early last year.

Mai Titi was left heartbroken after her marriage to her United States-based husband Tinashe Maphosa only lasted three months.

The couple made headlines after they splashed over US$100,000 on a lavish wedding held at Royal Gates in Chisipite in April 2022.

According to media reports, to book this picturesque venue, Mai Titi paid US$6,000.

Murata, breaking down the budget, said she paid US$4,500 for the gown, US$800 for décor and US$7,500 for the rings.