Appeals court upholds convictions of NY couple sentenced to prison for enslaving housekeepers

Appeals court upholds NY forced labor conviction

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court has upheld the forced-labor convictions of a New York couple sentenced to prison for enslaving two Indonesian housekeepers.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected arguments by attorneys for Mahender (muh-HEHN’-dur) and Varsha Sabhnani (sahb-NAH’-nee) that sought to overturn their conviction. It also ordered a recalculation of restitution.

Varsha Sabhnani’s lawyer had argued that publicity prevented a fair trial. Her husband’s lawyer argued that he did not actively take part in hurting the women.

Varsha Sabhnani is serving an 11-year prison sentence. Her husband, who has been free on bail, has been ordered to begin serving his three-year sentence next week.

(This version CORRECTS sentence for Varsha Sabhnani to 11 years.)