HONOLULU (AP) - A federal judge is throwing out a plea deal for
the owners of a major Hawaii farm who had pleaded guilty to
exploiting 44 imported laborers from Thailand.
Chief U.S. District Susan Oki Mollway on Thursday rejected the
agreement because Alec and Mike Sou disputed some of the facts in
the human trafficking case.
The brothers, who operated Aloun Farms on Oahu, must now enter a
new plea. Prosecutors threaten to bring additional charges against
the Sous choose to go to trial.
The Sous were scheduled to be sentenced Thursday. They had faced
up to five years in prison under the agreement that was thrown out.
The Sous admitted to violations of the U.S. agricultural guest
worker program, but they deny withholding passports and threatening
deportation.
