Entertainment / Music
In trouble for burning US$ notes
19 Jul 2018 at 15:26hrs | Views
FLAMBOYANT club wheel-spinner, T-Fresh - real name Tapuwa Mhlanga - might have wads of US dollars to burn, but might find himself in hot water for violating the law.
The youthful entertainer was captured in video burning the US dollar notes at an upmarket pub.
The act is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, which says that "whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."
In the video, T-Fresh was in the company of an unidentified colleague bragging about their riches.
However, it could not be ascertained whether the notes were authentic or counterfeit.
Harare lawyer Terrence Matanza said T-Fresh has no defence on the matter if a complaint is lodged against him.
"What is stopping the arrest is only that there is no one who has lodged a complaint against him but already he is on the wrong side of the law.
"I don't know if the notes were fake or not but whether they were fake or genuine he still has a case to answer.
"If the notes were real he has to case against the American law and if they were fake then he has a case to answer with the Zimbabwean law," he said.
Forget Savanhu from Chinake Legal Practitioners said T-Fresh actions were based on ignorance.
"From the video, it is clear to see that the young man was ignorant of his actions.
"There are high chances that he was drunk but it's unfortunate that the wrath of the law will not spare him.
"What will make his case lighter is for him to just say they were fake notes, because even if they were real no one has the evidence that they were real.
"If his case is like that then he might be asked to pay a fine for his actions by the courts of law," he said.
Contacted for comment, T-Fresh said he was not in a position to comment over the matter.
"I cannot talk to you about that thank you," he said.
On social media, T-Fresh was praised by his followers who were describing him as a big spender.
T-Fresh has also posted another video where he is seen making a phone call with a 'brick' of us $100 notes.
The youthful entertainer was captured in video burning the US dollar notes at an upmarket pub.
The act is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, which says that "whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."
In the video, T-Fresh was in the company of an unidentified colleague bragging about their riches.
However, it could not be ascertained whether the notes were authentic or counterfeit.
Harare lawyer Terrence Matanza said T-Fresh has no defence on the matter if a complaint is lodged against him.
"What is stopping the arrest is only that there is no one who has lodged a complaint against him but already he is on the wrong side of the law.
"I don't know if the notes were fake or not but whether they were fake or genuine he still has a case to answer.
"If the notes were real he has to case against the American law and if they were fake then he has a case to answer with the Zimbabwean law," he said.
"From the video, it is clear to see that the young man was ignorant of his actions.
"There are high chances that he was drunk but it's unfortunate that the wrath of the law will not spare him.
"What will make his case lighter is for him to just say they were fake notes, because even if they were real no one has the evidence that they were real.
"If his case is like that then he might be asked to pay a fine for his actions by the courts of law," he said.
Contacted for comment, T-Fresh said he was not in a position to comment over the matter.
"I cannot talk to you about that thank you," he said.
On social media, T-Fresh was praised by his followers who were describing him as a big spender.
T-Fresh has also posted another video where he is seen making a phone call with a 'brick' of us $100 notes.
Source - hmetro
