A judge has reserved her decision in the sentencing of former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman.
The judge said she would consider both parties' submissions and hand Ghahraman her sentence on Thursday afternoon.
The prosecution told the court the theoretical starting point for the offending was a jail sentence of between six and nine months, while the defence asked for a discharge without conviction. The judge had said a jail sentence was not on the cards.
Sentencing submissions focused on the part played by her mental health, and the impact a conviction would have on her ability to work as a lawyer, or to travel overseas, in future.
The former Green MP admitted to four counts of shoplifting when she appeared at the Auckland District Court in March, relating to three incidents in Auckland and one in Wellington.
Two relate to incidents at Scotties Boutique in Auckland’s Ponsonby on December 21 and 23, 2023. One relates to an incident on October 22, 2023, at the Wellington store Cre8iveworkx. Another incident occurred on December 22 at Standard Issue in Auckland’s Newmarket.
According to court documents, a total of $8917 worth of items were taken.
She resigned from politics in mid-January.
The Former Green MP admitted to four counts of shoplifting when she appeared in court in March. (Source: 1News)
Following the charges, Ghahraman said her mental health had been affected by the stresses of political life.
"This has led me to act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them,” she said at the time.
"People should, rightly, expect the highest standards of behaviour from their elected representatives. I fell short. I'm sorry.
"It's not a behaviour I can explain because it's not rational in any way, and after medical evaluation, I understand I'm not well."
When entering her plea in March, Ghahraman’s lawyer, Annabel Cresswell, said the former MP had received "horrific" abuse following the allegations.
* An earlier version of this story said the prosecution asked for a sentence of six to nine months. This was incorrect, the prosecution was telling the court that was a theoretical starting point for this level of offending.
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