A Green Party MP in New Zealand resigned on Monday after it was revealed he shoplifted at least three times from local luxury boutiques.
43-year-old M.P. Kolris Kahraman said in a statement that mental health issues and workload made him behave completely out of character, without addressing the allegations.
“The people have the right to expect a higher standard of behavior from their elected representatives. I have lost. I am sorry. This is not a behavior that I can explain as irrational in any way. After a medical evaluation, I understand that I am not well,” he said in his statement.
First Refugee in Parliament
Iranian-born Kahraman, who became the first refugee to sit in New Zealand's parliament in 2017, was accused of shoplifting at Scotty's Boutique in Ponsonby, Auckland, and Gre8vWorks in Wellington, local media reported.
New Zealand police said in a statement they were investigating an incident at a store in December, but declined to provide further details. They did not confirm the incident involving Kahraman. Kahraman said he's thankful for Scotty's Boutique's kindness and compassion.
James Shaw, one of the leaders of the Green Party, said Parliament was a stressful place for everyone, but Kahraman had endured a particularly difficult time as he had received several threats since taking office.
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