Jun 4, 2007
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(Related) | Forecast (Related) am New York (Related) AP New York Judge rejects bail package for Long Island couple in slavery case By FRANK ELTMAN
Associated Press Writer
June 4, 2007, 4:49 PM EDT
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. --
A millionaire couple accused of
keeping two Indonesian women as slaves in their mansion for years
remained jailed Monday after a federal judge chided prosecutors and
defense lawyers that a complex bail agreement that would allow the
couple to return home under house arrest was inadequate.
Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 35, and her husband, Mahender
Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51, are charged in a federal court indictment
with slavery and harboring undocumented citizens after one of the
Indonesian women was found wandering outside a doughnut shop not
far from the couple's Muttontown mansion muttering that she had
been injured and wanted to return to her native country.
Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Platt ruled after a
series of bail hearings that he would allow the couple to be freed
on a combined $3.5 million bail, provided they remained under home
detention with electronic monitoring and 24-hour surveillance _ all
paid for by the Long Island couple.
Although he remained soft-spoken, the judge did not disguise his
displeasure with some of the parameters of the bail agreement after
summoning the parties to his courtroom to discuss the case.
"This is not what I had in mind at all," he said, adding the
proposed bail package was "an open invitation to a tea party."
The judge was particularly displeased with the security aspects
of the couple's release, which would have called for a 24-hour
guard to be placed in the mansion's basement. The judge suggested
that additional officers be placed outside the home and even
suggested the possibility that the couple install special lighting
to illuminate the perimeter of the property.
He also said the couple's three daughters and one son would have
to be subjected to searches every time they enter or leave the
home.
Although the Sabhnanis agreed to pay for all aspects of security
at their home while they await trial _ a cost estimated at $5,000 a
day _ the judge noted that they had not provided any money in
advance to cover those costs.
Defense attorney Charles Ross expressed optimism that the
judge's concerns could be met. The judge scheduled another bail
hearing in the case for Wednesday.
The Sabhnanis, U.S. citizens originally from India, had their
U.S. passports confiscated when they were arrested, and their bank
accounts have been frozen.
The Sabhnanis, who operate a worldwide perfume business out of
their mansion, were arrested May 13 after one of the Indonesian
women was found wandering outside a nearby Dunkin' Donuts shop. The
woman apparently had escaped the night before while putting out the
trash, prosecutors said.
Unable to speak English fluently, she showed her wounds and
Indonesian passport to a manager at the shop and said, "Mister,
mister, I want to go home, Indonesia," according to Indonesian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Legowo.
The second woman was found when agents from Immigration and
Customs Enforcement searched the house later that day.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Demitri Jones has called the allegations
"a case of modern-day slavery."
The Sabhnanis have been charged with multiple counts of forced
labor and harboring illegal residents and have pleaded not guilty.
Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The Indonesian women have since been cared for by Catholic
Charities.
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