The Harare model who charged with stealing a jumpsuit worth $40 from Edgars Stores was Friday convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment by magistrate Batanai Madzingira.
Mercy Kamanura, 24, who is the reigning second princess of Black Opal face of Zimbabwe was however given an option to pay $80 fine, failing which she would go to prison.
Magistrate Madzingira rejected as weak and lame, the model’s defence that she had not yet made out her way out of the shop when she was searched and found in possession of the garment.
Kamanura was represented by lawyer, Lovemore Matapure, who throughout the trial insisted that the charge could be interpreted as attempted theft.
The model had also had accused the shop attendant of “planting” the jumpsuit in her bag. She told the court that she was shocked to see the garment in her bag.
However, prosecutor Progress Maringamoyo insisted that she put the jumpsuit in her bag without being noticed.
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