19 Dec 2018

Woman who prostituted daughter has sentence increased

2:21 pm on 19 December 2018

A woman who prostituted her daughter 1000 times has had her jail sentence increased.

Kasmeer Lata during sentencing at the High Court in Auckland

Kasmeer Lata during sentencing at the High Court in Auckland Photo: RNZ

Kasmeer Lata was sentenced in the High Court to six years and 11 months in prison after manipulating her then 15-year-old daughter into working as a prostitute for 18 months until late 2016.

Lata pleaded guilty to dealing in slaves and sexually exploiting and receiving earnings from commercial sexual services provided by an underage person.

Her offending was only disclosed after her daughter had a chance meeting with a Jehovah's Witness.

In October, the Crown argued there should have been a higher starting point for the sentence, rejecting the sentencing judge's suggestions that the offending could have been worse.

In a decision released today, the appeal was allowed and her sentence was increased to ten years and three months imprisonment.

The Judge found the aggravating circumstances of Ms Lata's offending placed the case squarely within the category of the most serious cases.

"The sexual exploitation in this case was both intensive and prolonged... it necessitated high and continuous levels of premeditation and planning. It was a gross breach of a mother's trust," Justice Brown said.

Ms Lata will be eligible for early release in five years.

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