The plight of 44 laborers from Thailand brought here to work at Aloun Farms was the result of greed by owners Alec and Michael Sou, who wanted cheap labor for their Kapolei-based farm, a federal prosecutor said in court this morning.

"This is a case about false promises, broken promises and greed," Justice Department attorney Kevonne Small told the federal jury in opening statements of the Sous’ forced labor trial.

But the Sous’ attorneys told the jury that the workers were treated fairly and not abused, but it was the federal government’s refusal to extend their work visas that shocked not only the workers, but the Sous themselves.

Attorneys Thomas Beinert Jr. and Thomas Otake, who represent the two brohters,  said it was only after the refusal that the workers complained and got to stay here longer as alleged victims of human trafficking.

"This is a case of workers wanting to stay here," Otake said.

The Sous face 12 felony charges, including forced labor counts that each carry a prison term of up to 20 years.

The trial in U. S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway’s courtroom is expected to span a month or longer.