Local News, Statewide News
Former Agriprocessors worker: Manager incompetent
Posted on Nov 02, 2009 by admin.
Sholom Rubashkin
An employee of an Iowa kosher meatpacking plant says that Sholom Rubashkin was incompetent and in over his head.
Chaim Abrahams testified for the defense during Rubashkin’s federal fraud trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Monday.
Abrahams, who still works at the former Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville, also testified that understaffing led to sloppiness in the plant’s operation.
Attorneys for Rubashkin argue that alleged fraud at the plant was the result of incompetence and not corruption.
Rubashkin is charged with 91 counts of financial fraud.
Prosecutors rested their case Monday before the defense started calling witnesses.
The plant was the site of an immigration raid in May 2008.
– Associated Press
Sorry, I don't buy "incompetence" for hiring illegals. Even my 10 year old knows violating an obvious law, which requires forging documents, is wrong.
This isn't the trial on hiring illegals, this is merely the trial dealing with the financial charges. The trial on hiring illegal immigrants will begin sometime after this one finishes.
I strongly agree with Daveym; no matter how the organized trials will come; incompetence nor being understaffed to hire illegals is not a right, but, illegal – it is our U. S. law – and everybody knows it.
I can not believe anyone in court, on trial would even use such a lame excuse !
It was in the news not long ago that two gentlemen testified; one stating that he had no knowledge that Rubashkin wrote out a fake receipt.
If Rubashkin or the plants incompetence plays a role here – Abrahams is guilty for something as well, like a conspiracy. For he sounds as if he knew all along the "sloppiness" at the plant and kept his mouth sealed.
I wouldn't let him slip out of sight.
And I am so glad they caught the lawbreaker Rubashkin – United States is Home Of The Free and our country has laws !