Millionaire Long Island Couple Charged with Slave Labor

GARDEN CITY, NY-- Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani and his wife, Varsha Mahender Sabhnani have been indicted on slavery charges. The millionaire couple allegedly held two Indonesian women captive in their Long Island home.

Tuesday's indictment charged the pair with two counts of forced labor as well as two counts of harboring illegal residents. The couple pleaded not guilty, and a judge set bail at $3.5 million.

The Sabhnanis were arrested last week by Nassau County Police. One of the women working for the couple was seen on Long Island. Wearing pants and a towel, the woman was meandering around a local doughnut shop. It is believed the woman ran from the Muttontown home after she took the garbage out on the previous evening. Muttontown is located on the northern shore of Long Island.

This incident is "truly a case of modern-day slavery," acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Demitri Jones when asked about the case.

With legal B-1 visas in hand, the two Indonesian women arrived in the United States in 2002. Authorities report the Sabhnanis took the women's passports and refused to allow them leave their home. Samirah and Nona, the alleged victims said they had negotiated wages of $200 and $100 a month. Prosecutors stated the women never received payment. One of the women's family members, still residing in Indonesia, was sent a payment of $100 a month.

Prosecutors said Samirah and Nona suffered beatings and had scalding water poured on them. Other instances of abuse include forcing the women to repeatedly climb stairs as a method of discipline for mistakes as well insisting one of the ladies eat 25 hot peppers in one sitting. Furthermore, they were required to sleep in the kitchen on floor mats. The pair admitted to stealing food from the kitchen because they did not receive adequate amounts of food.

According to a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the two women are being cared for by Catholic Charities. The women's long term plans to remain in the United States are currently undecided.

Varsha Mahender Sabhnani and Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani own and operate a fragrance business out of their home. Extensive travelers, the couple contracted with overseas companies to manufacture the perfumes. Sabhnani's Attorney, Charles A. Ross stated the two women were able to leave the home whenever they wanted to go. He called his clients "model citizens [who] only want to clear their names." As of Wednesday, the Sabhnanis had not posted bail and remained in custody.