The state this week temporarily suspended the license of a Central Jersey physician accused of exploiting two undocumented servants from India in her home.
Authorities allege Dr. Harsha Sahni forced the two to work long hours for low pay and even forced one of them to delay surgery for a brain aneurysm until that worker could find a replacement, the Ashbury Park Press reports.
In February, Sahni pleaded guilty to federal charges of hiding and harboring her undocumented immigrants and filing a false tax return. She faces up to 30 months in federal prison and paying her workers more than $640,000, and an additional $200,000 for treatment of the brain aneurysm.
My Central Jersey obtained court documents that reveal Sahni forced her servants to work 15 hours a day for seven days a week from 2013 until 2021. Prosecutors say she led her workers to believe they would be deported and arrested if they spoke to law enforcement.
“The criminal exploitation and utter disregard for the well-being of the victims in this case shocks the conscience and violates the most basic principles of medical practice,” Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement. “To protect the public and the integrity of the medical profession, we are securing the temporary suspension of Dr. Sahni’s medical license pending the outcome of these very serious allegations against her.”
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Her medical license suspension could become permanent pending the outcome of an administrative hearing.
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