Ghahraman pleads guilty

1 News reports:

The former Green Party MP was charged with four counts of shoplifting related to three incidents in Auckland and one in Wellington. 

Two incidents relate to Ponsonby retailer Scotties Boutique on December 21 and 23, 2023.

One relates to Wellington retailer Cre8iveworkx after an incident on October 22, 2023, while the fourth charge, laid late last month, allegedly place at Standard Issue in Auckland’s Newmarket on December 22.

The total of the items taken was revised to $8917.

Ghahraman entered the guilty pleas at the Auckland District Court today.

This means it is just sentencing in June. The maximum sentence is three months jail for theft up to $500, one year jail for up to $1,000 and seven years jail for over $1,000.

1st time offenders often get a pre-charge warning and second time offenders diversion. This is more complicated as it is the first time Ghahraman has been charged, but it covers four different thefts, with a fairly high total value.

A fine or community service is most likely I would say, or even a suspended sentence.

Only 14% of those charged with theft escape conviction but have the charges proved, and even smaller 4% get discharged without conviction. So Ghahraman would be very privileged to get that.

I note in the Herald article, that someone who was acting as private security for Ghahraman was shining his torch at photographers to try and spoil any photos they took. This, in my view, is not a good look in terms of contrition.