Former lawmaker charged to court for shoplifting from boutique stores
A former New Zealand lawmaker and justice spokesperson for the centre-left Green Party, Golriz Ghahraman, has been charged with shoplifting.
This comes a day after her resignation from the legislature.
Ghahraman, the first refugee to have been elected to New Zealand’s parliament, cited the need to address her mental health following reports linking her to allegations of shoplifting from boutique clothing stores.
Following an early morning interview at her home, the police later issued a statement confirming the charges.
Although the police did not mention Golriz Ghahraman by name, she was widely identified as the individual in question by New Zealand media.
The police statement revealed that “a 43-year-old woman has been summoned to appear in the Auckland District Court on two charges of shoplifting.”
Ghahraman is expected to appear in court on February 1.
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Ghahraman, a former human rights lawyer who served as an MP for six years, announced her resignation on Tuesday.
In her statement, she acknowledged experiencing work-related stress that led her to “act in ways that are completely out of character.”
She expressed a desire to explain her actions and acknowledged falling short of the standards expected of politicians while emphasising the need to address her mental health.
A refugee from Iran, Ghahraman migrated to New Zealand with her family in her childhood after being granted political asylum. With a background in law, she worked as a United Nations human rights lawyer on international criminal tribunals before entering parliament in 2017.
The pressure on Ghahraman grew as she faced criticism for her significant involvement in pro-Palestine protests.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw noted that the stress accompanying her six years in parliament had intensified, particularly during that period, and cited persistent threats of sexual violence, physical violence, and death threats directed towards her since her election.
Ghahraman’s case has sparked significant attention and concern surrounding her well-being, legal proceedings, and the repercussions of her resignation from public office.
