Four members of Britain’s wealthiest family, the Hindujas, have been found guilty of exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. The Hindujas, whose fortunes are estimated to be around $47 billion, face jail terms of around four years.
A Swiss court on Friday convicted them of exploitation and illegal employment, but acquitted them of a more serious charge of human trafficking. It ordered four years and six months’ jail term for Prakash Hinduja his wife Kamal Hinduja, and handed their son Ajay and his Namrata four-year terms each.
The Hindujas have challenged the verdict in a higher court.
Prosecutors alleged the Hindujas paid their staff only $8 for working 18 hours a day, less than a tenth of the minimum wage under Swiss law. They also confiscated their passport.
The Hindujas rarely allowed them to leave the house in Geneva’s wealthy neighbourhood of Cologny. They spent more on their dog than on their servants, the prosecutors told the court during the trial.
The Hindujas had denied the allegations and said their employees were free leave the villa and received ample benefits. The defence argued that the employees were “grateful” to the Hindujas for “offering them a better life.”
They had also reached an out-of-court settlement with the three employees, but the prosecution pursued the case due to the gravity of the charges.
Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, both in their 70s, did not attend the court due to health reasons. Ajay and Namrata had attended the trial but were not present on Friday to hear the verdict.
The Hinduja Group, which is present in 38 countries, has interests in oil and gas, banking and healthcare.
Source Agencies
