Jury seated in Aloun Farms trial

Dennis oda / doda@staradvertiser.com

Alec Sou, right, walked toward the federal courthouse on Thursday with his attorney, Thomas Bienert Jr. Alec and his brother, Mike Sou, are accused of bringing impoverished Thai laborers to Hawaii between 2003 and 2005 and threatening them with harm if they did not work at Aloun Farms in Kapolei.

A jury was selected and sworn in Thursday afternoon to clear the way for opening statements in the federal trial of brothers Alec and Mike Sou of Aloun Farms on forced-labor and related charges.

The two are accused of bringing Thai laborers to Hawaii and threatening them with harm if they did not work at the Kapolei farm.

U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway had told the lawyers to be ready to give their opening remarks on Thursday, but the two-day jury selection took longer than expected.

The brothers are accused of targeting impoverished workers from Thailand in 2003 to 2005 with false promises of high wages and three years of employment at the farm.

The brothers were looking for cheap labor and did not want to pay the required wages, according to the prosecution.

The Sous threatened to send the workers back to Thailand if they complained about their work or tried to escape from the farm, the prosecution contends.

The charges include conspiracy, forcing the immigrants to work in violation of federal laws and harboring aliens for financial gain.

The Sous have pleaded not guilty. Their attorneys contend the Thai laborers were not forced to work because they could have quit and that the Sous weren't responsible for what might happen in Thailand if they were sent back.

The trial is scheduled to span about a month.