Four members of the Hinduja family, Britain’s richest, are on human trafficking trial in Switzerland for allegedly mistreating their Indian household staff. Prosecutors claim they underpaid an Indian domestic help, spending more money on their pet dog than on the staffer’s salary. The Hindujas face jail terms of over five years.
The Hinduja family, Britain’s wealthiest, is being tried for human trafficking in Switzerland after allegations that they grossly underpaid an Indian domestic help at their Lake Geneva villa. The prosecution claims the Hindujas paid one staff member just seven Swiss francs (approximately £6.19) for an 18-hour workday, while spending 8,584 francs (£7,616) on their pet dog annually. Prosecutor Yves Bertossa has demanded the family cover 1 million francs in court costs and pay 3.5 million francs into a compensation fund for the staff.
The Hindujas allegedly seized the passport of the Indian domestic help.
A human trafficking trial commenced on Monday in Switzerland involving four members of the Hinduja family — Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, their son Ajay, and his wife Namrata. This followed a recent settlement where three plaintiffs withdrew their civil suit against the family, reported the Daily Mail.
The trial includes allegations that the billionaire family took their staff’s passports and restricted them from leaving the house without permission. The staff were paid in India (in Indian rupees), leaving them without Swiss money while in the country.
Prosecutors claimed the Hinduja family spent more on their pet dog than on a staff member, according to the report.
Citing a budget document titled “Pets”, Prosecutor Yves Bertossa informed the court that a female staff member received just 7 Swiss francs ($7.84) for working days that lasted 15 to 18 hours, seven days a week.
This amount was less than the 8,584 Swiss francs they spent on their dog annually, he added.
HINDUJA FAMILY DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS
The Hinduja family denied the allegations, asserting that their staff were treated with dignity and respect. They claim that the prosecution exaggerated the working hours and misrepresented the pay, reported the Daily Mail.
Ajay’s lawyer, Yael Hayat, argued that the staff received boarding and lodging in addition to their salaries, and that some workers testified they were treated well.
The lawyer also stated that one staff member mentioned her pay was better than what she earned in India. She added that the woman willingly took the job in Geneva and repeatedly returned.
Ajay testified that he wasn’t fully aware of the employees’ working conditions since the Hinduja Group in India handled recruitment. He added that staff are now formally paid, and all hiring is conducted locally through a third-party agency.
PROSECUTOR CLAIMS COMPENSATION FOR STAFF FROM HINDUJA FAMILY
The human trafficking trial are against four members of the Hinduja family — Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, their son Ajay, and his wife Namrata.
Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, aged 78 and 75, did not attend the trial, citing health issues. Prosecutor Bertossa criticised their absence, suggesting they could have managed a short flight from Cannes to Geneva.