Al-Turki, a 36-year-old Ph.D. student, was convicted in a Colorado court for sexually assaulting his Indonesian housekeeper and keeping her as a virtual slave for four years.

According to his wife, Sarah Al-Khonaizan, 35, Al-Turki’s lawyers say that the state law was breached when he was sentenced by a judge at Arapahoe County District Court.

The lawyers say that although the judge presiding over the case was only allowed to issue a sentence between four and 12 years, the sentence was doubled. A new hearing is scheduled in a few weeks to review the new findings and submit an appeal to reduce the sentencing. Speaking about her husband’s condition in prison, Al-Khonaizan, who was also arrested along with her husband in 2004 for overstaying her visa, said he is not being treated for injuries to his knee and hand caused by hard work at the prison.

“Although a prison physician stated he needs surgeries, the prison authorities have denied him this right,” she said, adding that she and her children have not seen him since leaving the US in 2006.

“I am prohibited from visiting him, but my children can. They, however, fear going to the US after the horrifying experience they underwent in their childhood,” she said.

Al-Khonaizan was detained for 12 days when FBI agents raided the couple’s home. She was only released after her family paid her bond.

During her time in police custody, the couple’s children were left alone at home and the couple’s bank accounts were frozen. The couple’s relatives and friends were also instructed by US authorities not to contact the family.

Al-Khonaizan said her children have moved on in life and miss their father — her eldest daughter Lama is studying law, her son Turki is studying engineering, her other daughter Nora is in high school, Arwa is in secondary school and Roba is in sixth grade.

“Their plans, their decisions, their dreams are all on hold. They miss their absent father,” she said.