June 22nd 2024.
A wealthy family of Indian descent, the Hinduja family, has recently been facing accusations of exploiting vulnerable domestic workers. Four members of the family, Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, his son Ajay, and daughter-in-law Namrata, were sentenced to four years in prison by the Swiss criminal court for their involvement in trafficking servants who were employed at their luxurious lakeside villa in Geneva.
Initially, the family faced even more severe charges of human trafficking, but the court ultimately dismissed them, citing lack of evidence. The four members of the family received varying sentences, with Prakash and Kamal receiving four and a half years each, while Ajay and Namrata were sentenced to four years. Their lawyers have announced their plans to appeal the decision.
Interestingly, the Hinduja family members were not present in court during the sentencing, except for their business manager Najib Ziazi, who received an 18-month suspended sentence. The court found the family guilty of exploiting workers and providing unauthorized employment, as well as withholding passports and paying their employees in Indian rupees instead of Swiss francs.
It was revealed that the family had reached a settlement with the plaintiffs, but the exact details of the agreement were not disclosed. The case against the Hinduja family was opened after an investigation by Geneva prosecutors into their alleged illegal activities, including exploitation, human trafficking, and violation of Swiss labor laws.
The Hinduja family has been residing in Switzerland for several decades, with other family members choosing to establish themselves in London. This is not the first time that Prakash Hinduja has faced charges of similar nature, as he was convicted in 2007 but continued to employ workers without proper paperwork.
The employees at the Hinduja villa were forced to work long hours, sometimes up to 18 hours a day, with little to no time off and for wages that were far below the Swiss standard. They were also reportedly made to sleep in the basement of the villa, often on a mattress on the floor. The court described a "climate of fear" created by Kamal Hinduja, who was in charge of managing the workers.
Many of the employees only spoke Hindi and were paid in Indian rupees, making it difficult for them to access their wages as they were held in banks back home. The family's assets, including diamonds, rubies, and a platinum necklace, have been seized by Swiss authorities in anticipation of possible penalties and legal fees.
In addition to the charges mentioned above, Prakash Hinduja is also facing a separate tax case, as he obtained Swiss citizenship in 2000. Along with his three brothers, he is a leader of an industrial conglomerate that operates in various sectors such as information technology, media, power, real estate, and healthcare. According to Forbes magazine, the Hinduja family's net worth is estimated to be around £15.8 billion.
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