In a huge victory for two assistants in particular and a small victory for all assistants everywhere, Varsha Sabhnani of Long Island was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The wealthy woman and her husband, Mahender, were convicted of several charges, including “forced labor,” for treating two maids like slaves. Samirah and Enung, who are both Indonesian, were essentially trapped at the couple’s mansion. Among some of the atrocities they had to endure:
The victims testified that they were beaten with brooms and umbrellas, slashed with knives, and forced to climb stairs and take freezing showers as punishment. One victim was forced to eat dozens of chili peppers against her will, and then was forced to eat her own vomit when she couldn’t keep the peppers down, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors contended the accusations amounted to a “modern-day slavery” case. They said the maids were subjected to “punishment that escalated into a cruel form of torture,” which ended in May 2007, when one of the women fled early on the morning of Mother’s Day. She wandered into a Dunkin’ Donuts wearing nothing but rags, and employees called police.
Congratulations to Samirah and Enung, whose awful boss finally got her comeuppance. On behalf of all assistants I hope you move on to better opportunities and better treatment. Thank you for speaking out and calling attention to the employee abuses that still exist in our country.
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