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Businessman in string of labor charges turns himself in
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Posted on Nov 30 1998
A local businessman who is facing 162 counts of criminal charges for allegedly abusing contract workers turned himself in to authorities last Friday and was given a reduced bail of $100,000.
Antonio Aldan Benavente, 43, flew in from Utah and gave himself up to the Department of Public Safety, according to Assistant Attorney General Aaron Williams.
Williams filed a 162-count information against Benavente on Nov. 12 and sought a $3 million bail.
A bail hearing was held Friday in which Superior Court Judge Juan T. Lizama ordered a $100,000 bond for his temporary release.
Benavente — owner of Benavente Security Agency, Island Protection Service and PAC Asia Enterprises — was charged with 89 counts of failure to pay wages, 29 counts of failure to pay minimum wages, and 15 counts of illegal charging of fees for application and renewal.
The businessman is also facing 20 counts of employment of illegal foreign workers, three counts of illegal deduction from workers, five counts of failure to pay medical expenses and three counts of attempted illegal charging of fees for application and renewals.
The filing of the charges followed an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Labor and Immigration.
The agencies received complaints from Benavente’s workers, majority of whom were Bangladeshi nationals, who did not receive their salaries.
The employees claimed they were never paid more than the minimum wage, and others said they were even forced to purchase the mandatory equipment for their work so that their actual wage fell below the mandatory minimum wage level.
Others who were interviewed also said they had to pay for the renewal of their non-resident worker certificates instead of Benavente paying for it.
Employees whose work permits have expired were not renewed but continued working for Benavente.
An employee, identified as MD. Abu Zahidur Rahman, said he had incurred medical expenses while he was under the employ of Benavente but never received reimbursements for them.
Benavente will be arraigned next week.
