Bern: A Swiss court on Friday convicted members of the UK’s richest family, the Hindujas, for exploiting domestic workers at their Geneva mansion.
Prakash and Kamal Hinduja received sentences of four years and six months in prison, while Ajay and Namrata Hinduja were sentenced to four years. The court also ordered them to pay approximately $950,000 in compensation and $300,000 in procedural fees, as reported by The New York Times.
However, the family members were acquitted of charges related to human trafficking. Prosecutors had accused the Hindujas of trafficking and exploiting workers from India, alleging they confiscated passports and forced them to work long hours without proper compensation.
Lawyers representing the Hindujas denied these allegations throughout the trial. Najib Ziazi, a business adviser to the family, was found complicit in the exploitation.
In response to the verdict, Romain Jordan, a lawyer for the Hindujas, expressed disappointment and confirmed they would appeal the decision. “The family has full faith in the judicial process and remains determined to defend themselves,” Jordan stated.
The Hinduja family, renowned for their multinational conglomerate spanning real estate, automotive manufacturing, banking, oil and gas, and healthcare, faced scrutiny over the treatment of their domestic staff in Geneva. The trial began on June 10, with prosecutors highlighting instances where workers were allegedly paid below minimum wage and forced to work in harsh conditions.
The indictment described workers being paid as little as Rs 10,000 a month (approximately $120) and housed in a basement room without windows, where they worked long hours without overtime pay.
The civil case involving the main accusers was reportedly settled last week, under confidential terms. The criminal trial saw prosecutors seeking sentences of up to five and a half years, along with significant fines and compensation.
The Hinduja family, originally from India, has significant business interests worldwide, including properties in London, where they own a prestigious 25-bedroom residence and the historic Old War Office building, now operating as a Raffles Hotel.
The passing of Srichand P Hinduja in 2023, the eldest of the brothers and former joint chairman of the Hinduja Group, had preceded tensions within the family over control of their vast assets.
