US 'slavery' couple found guilty

[awakening2lite]

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7148530.stm

US 'slavery' couple found guilty

EXCERPT

A wealthy US couple have been convicted of keeping two Indonesian women as slaves in a New York home and abusing them physically and psychologically.

Indian-born Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51, and his wife, Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 45, could face up to 40 years in prison.

They were found guilty on 12 charges, which included involuntary servitude, harbouring aliens and forced labour.


continued at source

[Justiceguy]

Amazing story.... here's another link which gives some background on the case, pictures of the house.

http://www.nriinternet.com/NRI_Discrimination/USA/2007/Mahender_%20Sabhnani/index.htm

[awakening2lite]

The Proceedings have been postponed

EXCERPT

A judge cleared a U.S. courtroom when a jury convicted a millionaire couple in a so-called "modern-day slavery" case after the woman fainted, along with one of her daughters.

The judge said he would ask jurors to return to court Tuesday, when the couple could learn whether they will be ordered to pay monetary damages.

The government also could seize their mansion, where they kept two Indonesian women as housekeepers, as prosecutors had requested, according to Tuesday editions of Newsday and the Daily News.

EXCERPT

Although the couple could face as much as 40 years in prison, attorneys predicted the punishment would be considerably less. No sentencing date was set for the Sabhnanis, who run a global perfume business.

continued at source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/18/america/NA-GEN-US-Forced-Labor.php

[LiveLaughLuv]

I think they should be made an example of and not get a lenient sentence.

The pictures of those woman, their bruises made me want to cry. They were tortured and lucky to escape with their lives.

[awakening2lite]

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/nyregion/21slave.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin


EXCERPT

The judge ruled that because the jury found she had been the one who inflicted physical punishment on the housekeepers, she was no longer eligible to remain free.

[awakening2lite]

EXCERPT

A Muttontown millionaire, convicted with his wife of enslaving two Indonesian domestic workers, was sentenced Friday to 3 years and 4 months in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt said Mahender Sabhnani did not inflict physical injury on the two women, "but he permitted all of these things to go on - these dreadful things - he had to know."

EXCERPT

Sabhnani's wife, Varsha, was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in prison and was fined $25,000 for her role in holding the women as slaves.

source: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-adref5744651jun28,0,611745.story

[Roamer]

Good! When those women in prison find out what she's there for, I don't think she'll be a happy camper.

I've seen TV shows on this. It happens much more often than we think.

The "slaves" rarely speak English, have no money, know no one, and see no one but the family. It's terrible.