Jury Convicts 2 but Stalls on Slavery Counts

Two defendants accused of being members of a slavery ring were convicted Monday in Los Angeles federal court, but not on charges of holding Indonesian aliens in involuntary servitude and peonage as charged.

Jurors found Nasim Mussry, 57, of Beverly Hills guilty on six counts, including conspiracy, visa fraud and illegally bringing aliens into the United States. His sister, Elsa Singman, 54, of Los Angeles was convicted of conspiracy.

After deliberating for more than a week, however, the jurors were “hopelessly deadlocked” on 10 counts involving the so-called slavery charges, Assistant U.S. Atty. Enrique Romero said.

The two defendants were among 10 people indicted by a federal grand jury in September, 1982, on charges of bringing about 30 Indonesians into the United States and forcing them to work as domestics.

Pair Sought

Two others named in the indictment, David Mussry, a brother of Nasim Mussry and Singman, and Mordecai Sassoon, are fugitives, authorities said. Five others pleaded guilty to reduced charges and were placed on probation. Charges against a 10th person were dropped.

During the trial Nyoman Raka Mgakan, 24, testified that he lived for months as a virtual prisoner of a Los Angeles woman who never paid him. The woman, Toba Mussry, 90, the mother of Nasim Mussry and Singman, denied mistreating or imprisoning Indonesian immigrants.

Nasim Mussry faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and fines totaling $23,000; Singman, a maximum five-years and a $10,000 fine. Both are free on bail pending sentencing Nov. 15.