A man who helped to pimp out his partner's teenage daughter for sex has been sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment.
Avneesh Sehgal at his sentencing in the Auckland High Court, with a translator for the court. Photo: RNZ / Jessie Chiang
Avneesh Sehgal, 26, pleaded guilty to receiving earnings and sexually exploiting Kasmeer Lata's then underage 15-year-old daughter.
He was sentenced in the Auckland High Court today.
The teenager was forced to work as prostitute - starting on her 15th birthday - for a period of 18 months, ending in late 2016.
Sehgal arranged advertising, allowed the use of his bank account to deposit earnings and drove the victim to meet with clients.
Sehgal was supposed to stand trial in mid-April but just six days before the trial, he was arrested at Auckland International Airport trying to board a flight to India.
He then pleaded guilty to receiving earnings and sexually exploiting Kasmeer Lata's daughter who was 15 at the time.
It has been estimated the teenager made about $100,000 from prostitution, about half of which was pocketed by Lata and Sehgal.
Crown Prosecutor Natalie Walker argued that Sehgal was integral to the offending and without him it would not have occured.
But defence lawyer Graeme Newell disputed that and argued against a minimum sentence.
Justice Lang told Sehgal normal parole conditions would be inadequate.
"I consider that would be manifestly insufficient to reflect the sentencing principles of deterrence, denounciation and particular in your case, the need to hold you accountable for your actions," he said.
Justice Lang said Sehgal played a significant role in harming the teenager.
"She was isolated from the family and other support networks that would normally be available to a person her age," he said.
"You were prepared to become involved in the offending not withstanding the fact that you must have known the extent to which she was vulnerable."
Sehgal has been given a minimum sentence of two years and four months in prison.
Mr Newell said it is likely that the 26-year-old, who currently has permanent residency, will be deported after serving his sentence.
Last month, Lata was sentenced to six years and 11 months in jail, after pleading guilty to dealing in slaves and sexually exploiting and receiving earnings from commercial sexual services provided by an underage person.
Lata and her children entered New Zealand in 2014 on visitor visas, which later expired.
She manipulated her then 15-year-old daughter into working as a prostitute and forced her to do so for 18-months until late 2016.