Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani

Here’s to people getting their comeuppance. Enslaving others is one of the most heinous crimes that I can think of. Via the BBC: "A wealthy New York woman has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for keeping two Indonesian women as slaves. Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 46, and her husband Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51, kept them as slaves and abused them physically and psychologically. The couple had been found guilty on 12 charges in December, including involuntary servitude, harbouring aliens and forced labour. Mr Sabhnani is to be sentenced later on Friday and may get a shorter term. In addition to prison, his Indian-born ... Read Full Story

Even though Varsha and Mahender Sabhnani, a wealthy Muttontown couple, were convicted of enslaving two Indonesian women, they should receive mercy because of their charity and kindness to others, defense attorneys argue in a court brief. Varsha Sabhnani (sahb-NAH'-nee) was convicted with her husband in December of forced labor, conspiracy, involuntary servitude and harboring aliens. Her husband will be sentenced tomorrow. Protesters included a diverse mix from Domestic Workers United, Damayan Migrant Workers Association and Andolan, which represents South Asian workers. The protest was held outside the courthouse where Varsha Sabhnani was to be sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison for enslaving ... Read Full Story

An India born American millionaire couple has been found guilty of slavery by US prosecutors. The millionaire couple enslaved and tortured two Indonesian women working in their New York mansion as house-keepers. The women were repeatedly subjected to psychological and physical abuse and were forced to work 18 hours or more a day. Fifty-one-year old Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani,and his wife, Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 45 could both go to jail for as long as 40 years. Varsha Sabhnani and her daughter Dakshina collapsed in the courtroom after the verdict was read. The Sabhnanis, who have four children, operate a worldwide perfume business out of their ... Read Full Story

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A wealthy New York woman was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Thursday for keeping two Indonesian women as slaves, forcing them to work up to 20 hours a day for years after confiscating their passports. Indian-born Varsha Sabhnani and her husband, Mahender Sabhnani, were convicted in December of forced labor, peonage, harboring aliens, document servitude and conspiracy in what prosecutors called “a case of modern-day slavery.” Mahender Sabhnani was due to be sentenced on Friday, also by Judge Arthur Spatt, at U.S. federal court in Central Islip, on New York state’s Long Island. Defense lawyers had argued that ... Read Full Story

By FRANK ELTMAN Associated Press Writer CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) _ A millionaire who inflicted years of abuse on two Indonesian housekeepers held as virtual slaves in her Long Island mansion was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in prison. Varsha Sabhnani, 46, was convicted with her husband in December on a 12-count federal indictment that included forced labor, conspiracy, involuntary servitude and harboring aliens. The trial provided a glimpse into a growing U.S. problem of domestic workers exploited in slave-like conditions. The victims testified that they were beaten with brooms and umbrellas, slashed with knives, and forced to climb stairs and take freezing showers ... Read Full Story