CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — A federal judge has denied a wealthy Long Island man’s request to delay serving a 40-month prison sentence for virtually enslaving two Indonesian women.
Judge Arthur Spatt denied Mahender Sabhnani’s request to stay his sentence until his appeals had been exhausted, which could have taken a year or more to play out.
Sabhnani’s attorney argued that his client needed more time because of the economic downturn and because of “cultural issues” that were making it difficult for his daughter to engage male customers in the Middle East.
The judge said that he had already given Sabhnani 10 months to address his business affairs.
Sabhnani and his wife were convicted of charges including forced labor. His wife has been sent to prison. ♦