Evidence seized from couple accused of enslavement

A judge set bail Thursday for the Muttontown husband and wife accused of enslavement. Federal officials seized more evidence from Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 35, and husband Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani's,

News 12 Staff

May 17, 2007, 10:09 PM

Updated 6,622 days ago

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A judge set bail Thursday for the Muttontown husband and wife accused of enslavement.
Federal officials seized more evidence from Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 35, and husband Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani's, 51, home Wednesday. The seizure of evidence comes after two Indonesian women accused the couple of keeping them as slaves in their home.
Prosecutors said the couple hired the two women as housekeepers in 2002, but have since held them against their will. The women claim they were often locked inside closets if they disobeyed. They also said the Sabhnanis tortured them daily and forced them to work 20-hour days.
Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani?s bail was set for $1 million and Varsha Mahender Sabhnani's bail was set for $2.5 million. The couple may not use their Muttontown home as equity, but are allowed to use their multi-million dollar Manhattan home. The appraisals will take a couple of days, leaving the Sabhnanis in jail for the time being.
If the Sabhnanis post bail, they will be on home detention and must be electronically monitored because they are considered a flight risk.
The Sabhnanis' children, who live at the home, may also be investigated.
Related Information:Feds: Muttontown couple enslaved housekeepers