Modern Day Slavery in New York

[metta 0]

CRUEL L.I. SLAVE MASTERS

MILLIONAIRE DUO BRUTALIZED HELP AT MANSION: FEDS

By STEFANIE COHEN, KIERAN CROWLEY and KATE SHEEHY

HEARTLESS: Millionaire couple Varsha Mahender Sabhnani (above) and husband Mahender Murliddhar Sabhnani had one of their "slaves" living in a closet, authorities say.

HEARTLESS: Millionaire couple Varsha Mahender Sabhnani (above) and husband Mahender Murliddhar Sabhnani had one of their "slaves" living in a closet, authorities say.

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May 16, 2007 -- A "monstrous" millionaire couple from Long Island's Gold Coast kept two Indonesian women as slaves for five years in their tony estate-turned-house of horrors - until one victim was found wandering the street half-naked this week muttering, "Master," authorities said yesterday.

Varsha Mahender Sabhnani and her husband, Mahender Murliddhar Sabhnani - perfume moguls from the mega-rich community of Muttontown - were hauled into federal court yesterday to face charges including beating, cutting and scalding one of the victims and committing "incomprehensible . . . inhumanity" against both.

"Home, I want to go home," sobbed one of the middle-aged women, identified as "Samirah," when she was found bruised and battered at a Dunkin' Donuts on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset at around 6 a.m. Sunday.

Less than a mile away, authorities said, was what had become her hell on earth: an antiques-stuffed, cedar-shakers mansion where she was beaten with brooms and rolling pins, repeatedly sliced on the ears with a paring knife, starved and forced to sleep on the kitchen floor.

Varsha - a 45-year-old mother of four - was the main torturer who doled out the horrific punishment while her husband, 51, watched, officials said. The wife is Indonesian; Mahender is from India.

Varsha's cruelty included forcing Samirah to take as many as 30 ice-cold showers in a row, run up and down a flight of stairs 150 times as fast as she could - and gulp down at least 25 "extremely hot chili peppers at one time," according to the arrest warrant.

"The conduct the defendants committed is monstrous," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Demetri Jones. "It's truly a case of modern-day slavery."

Authorities said the victims' nightmare began after they were brought to the United States by the couple to work as house servants.

They were told they would be paid $200 a month, although Samirah told authorities she later learned the Sabhnanis sent only half that amount to her daughter back in Indonesia.

[JODO 2]

I am glad they were caught and I hope they get prison time.

[almaty 19]

that is just wrong and terrible..the ####### and that ####### husband too...senseless and cruel

[William33 110]

Get a rope!!

[eric&gen 0]

I hope when they go to prison they have the same kind of treatment done to them by big bubba will soon to be there cell mate lol.

[mawilson 2,133]

Varsha's cruelty included forcing Samirah to take as many as 30 ice-cold showers in a row, run up and down a flight of stairs 150 times as fast as she could - and gulp down at least 25 "extremely hot chili peppers at one time," according to the arrest warrant.

Good grief

[JODO 2]

Varsha's cruelty included forcing Samirah to take as many as 30 ice-cold showers in a row, run up and down a flight of stairs 150 times as fast as she could - and gulp down at least 25 "extremely hot chili peppers at one time," according to the arrest warrant.

Good grief

It really is horrible the way they were treated.

[MaydayDas 1]

they think if they have money they can do whatever they want? what the.....

[Saddle Bronc 124]

They should both be sent to do hard time at Tihar (Delhi's largest prison).

[~Chad~ 0]

I hope the so-called "slaves" get millions of dollars for emotional compensation.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Animals!!!

[Aymerlu 3]

Terrible! I hope they get the same treatment.

[Mary Lou 682]

How horrific

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Hmmm.

Millionaire couple and a presumably poor person claiming they abused her?

Could very well be nothing more than an attempt at extortion.

[athena_ny 1]

CRUEL L.I. SLAVE MASTERS

MILLIONAIRE DUO BRUTALIZED HELP AT MANSION: FEDS

By STEFANIE COHEN, KIERAN CROWLEY and KATE SHEEHY

HEARTLESS: Millionaire couple Varsha Mahender Sabhnani (above) and husband Mahender Murliddhar Sabhnani had one of their "slaves" living in a closet, authorities say.

HEARTLESS: Millionaire couple Varsha Mahender Sabhnani (above) and husband Mahender Murliddhar Sabhnani had one of their "slaves" living in a closet, authorities say.

PreviousPauseNext

PrintEmailDigg ItStory Bottom

May 16, 2007 -- A "monstrous" millionaire couple from Long Island's Gold Coast kept two Indonesian women as slaves for five years in their tony estate-turned-house of horrors - until one victim was found wandering the street half-naked this week muttering, "Master," authorities said yesterday.

Varsha Mahender Sabhnani and her husband, Mahender Murliddhar Sabhnani - perfume moguls from the mega-rich community of Muttontown - were hauled into federal court yesterday to face charges including beating, cutting and scalding one of the victims and committing "incomprehensible . . . inhumanity" against both.

"Home, I want to go home," sobbed one of the middle-aged women, identified as "Samirah," when she was found bruised and battered at a Dunkin' Donuts on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset at around 6 a.m. Sunday.

Less than a mile away, authorities said, was what had become her hell on earth: an antiques-stuffed, cedar-shakers mansion where she was beaten with brooms and rolling pins, repeatedly sliced on the ears with a paring knife, starved and forced to sleep on the kitchen floor.

Varsha - a 45-year-old mother of four - was the main torturer who doled out the horrific punishment while her husband, 51, watched, officials said. The wife is Indonesian; Mahender is from India.

Varsha's cruelty included forcing Samirah to take as many as 30 ice-cold showers in a row, run up and down a flight of stairs 150 times as fast as she could - and gulp down at least 25 "extremely hot chili peppers at one time," according to the arrest warrant.

"The conduct the defendants committed is monstrous," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Demetri Jones. "It's truly a case of modern-day slavery."

Authorities said the victims' nightmare began after they were brought to the United States by the couple to work as house servants.

They were told they would be paid $200 a month, although Samirah told authorities she later learned the Sabhnanis sent only half that amount to her daughter back in Indonesia.

Another reason to stay away from Long Island...