Full Breakdown
Mohammed Aziz Sentenced to Nine Years for Rape After Fleeing New Zealand
5/5/2026, 12:35:30 PM
Sentencing and Background
Mohammed Aziz, 40, from Nelson-Tasman, was sentenced to nine years for a representative charge of rape and a concurrent nine-month term for possession of objectionable material. The offenses stem from a six-year period of repeated sexual assaults on a teenage girl, with DNA on her clothing and body linking Aziz to the crimes. He denied wrongdoing, fled New Zealand in August 2025, and was arrested at Auckland Airport on his return.
Timeline of Investigation and Proceedings
- Apr 2024 – Home search; DNA sample taken.
- May 2024 – DNA matched victim.
- Aug 2025 – Aziz fled, then arrested on return.
- 2025 – Guilty plea; nine-year sentence.
Key Data and Statistics
The nine-year rape term runs with a nine-month concurrent term for objectionable material. A 25 % plea discount, called “generous,” reduced the sentence. Abuse lasted about six years; DNA evidence confirmed Aziz’s role. The victim received a protection order; Aziz was registered as a child sex offender.
Official Statements and Responses
Crown prosecutor Sophie O’Donoghue said Aziz’s long absence showed he prioritised his own needs and was not entitled to a discount after claiming a single incident. The Crown sought a 12-year sentencing starting point, citing the assaults’ frequency and premeditation; Judge Tony Snell adopted that starting point but imposed a nine-year term, noting the objectionable-material charge as an aggravating factor. He rejected the offender’s attempt to link childhood abuse to the crimes. Defence lawyer Amanda Godwin argued Aziz expressed shame and sought rehabilitation, which supported the 25 % plea discount.
Conflicting Reports and Victim Impact
Aziz claimed the rape occurred only once, yet DNA evidence linked him to repeated assaults over a six-year period. The teenage victim testified that the abuse left lasting psychological scars, saying her body retains memories the mind tries to forget and that she felt she was “tip-toeing through landmines.” A support person read a statement calling the day a “monument to her incredible courage,” underscoring community condemnation. The report does not disclose the victim’s age at each incident or details about the child for whom Aziz was sentenced, leaving key contextual information unavailable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can say little more than you have physically and psychologically harmed her in the worst ways possible,” — Judge Tony Snell
- “Some days I don’t feel like a person – just a body moving through the hours,” — Victim
- “This was a long period of absence in which he prioritised his own needs,” — Sophie O’Donoghue
- “Can you explain how something which happened 40 years earlier coincided with him repeatedly raping this girl?” — Judge Tony Snell
What’s Next
Aziz’s release date will be set by the Parole Board. The protection order remains in effect, and his child-sex-offender registration will continue indefinitely.
