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Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman's Shoplifting Sentencing Delayed Until Thursday
Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman's sentencing has been delayed until Thursday afternoon.
The 43-year-old appeared in the Auckland District Court this afternoon to be sentenced for shoplifting for which she ealier entered guilty pleas.
Judge Jelas had allowed Ghahraman to sit in the public gallery for the sentencing, saying she would not be receiving a custodial sentence.
Crown prosecutor Alysha McClintock contested Ghahraman's mental health being a direct cause of her shoplifting.
McClintock said the mental health report submitted indicates there is a possibility of a link between Gharaman's undiagnosed PTSD and the offending.
But McClintock said the link is tenuous and tempers the extent to which this can be used to lower her culpability.
McClintock put Ghahraman's culpability at medium to high gravity of offending.
Ghahraman's lawyer Annabel Cresswell asked for a discharge without conviction.
Ghahraman's early acceptance of responsibility, show of remorse, and low likelihood of re-offending should be considered in sentencing, she said.
Sentencing was reserved til Thursday afternoon.
Ghahraman earlier admitted four shoplifting charges relating to the theft of thousands of dollars' worth of clothing when she appeared in the Auckland District Court in March.
She had resigned as an MP earlier in the year after the charges came to light.
In a statement in January, Ghahraman said stress relating to her work had led her to "act in ways that are completely out of character".
"The mental health professional I see says my recent behaviour is consistent with recent events giving rise to extreme stress response, and relating to previously unrecognised trauma," she said.
The former politician was charged with stealing $695 worth of clothing from Wellington's Cre8iveworx Store on 22 October, 2023 and a navy cardigan valued at $389 from Standard Issue in Newmarket on 22 December.
She was also charged with two counts of shoplifting from Scotties Boutique in Ponsonby - $5773 of items on 21 December and $2060 worth of goods on 23 December.
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