A Swiss court on Friday sentenced four members of Britain’s richest family to prison terms, calling them “selfish” for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion.
The Hindujas were acquitted of human trafficking but convicted on other charges, in a surprising verdict for the family, whose fortune is estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion) by the Sunday Times.
Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal Hinduja received four years and six months each, while their son Ajay and his wife Namrata received four-year sentences, the presiding judge in Geneva ruled.
They were found guilty of a charge of “usury” for taking advantage of their vulnerable immigrant employees to pay them a pittance.
“The inexperience of employees was exploited. They had little or no education and were unaware of their rights,” said President Sabina Mascotto at her trial.
“The defendants’ motives were selfish,” she said, adding that the Hindujas were motivated “by the desire for gain.”
Lawyers for the Swiss-Indian family members – who were not present in court – said they would appeal the verdict.
The court acquitted them of the more serious charge of human trafficking, saying the workers had voluntarily traveled to Switzerland.
– Salary of $450 –
During the trial, the family was accused of bringing servants from their native India and confiscating their passports when they arrived in Switzerland.
Prosecutor Yves Bertossa accused Hindus of spending “more on their dogs than on their domestic servants.”
The Hindujas paid domestic staff a salary of between 220 and 400 francs ($250-450) per month, up to 90% less than the current salary, the court heard.
“The four Hinduja defendants knew the weak position their employees found themselves in and they knew the law in Switzerland,” Mascotto said.
The family denied the accusations, claiming that prosecutors wanted to “target the Hindujas”.
The family reached a confidential out-of-court settlement with the three employees who made the allegations against them.
Despite this, the Public Prosecutor’s Office decided to pursue the case due to the seriousness of the accusations.
Following the verdict, Bertossa requested an immediate detention order for Ajay and Namrata Hinduja, citing a flight risk.
The defense denied the risk, claiming that Kamal Hinduja is hospitalized in Monaco and the other three family members were by his side.
Aged 78 and 75, respectively, both parents had been absent since the start of the trial for health reasons.
It was not immediately clear whether the four would be extradited from the principality to serve their sentences.
– ‘Slaves not mistreated’ –
The defense argued that the three employees received ample benefits, were not kept in isolation and were free to leave the village.
“We are not dealing with mistreated slaves,” Nicolas Jeandin told the court.
In fact, the officials “were grateful to the Hindus for offering them a better life”, argued fellow lawyer Robert Assael.
Representing Ajay Hinduja, lawyer Yael Hayat criticized the “excessive” prosecution, arguing that the trial should be a matter of “fairness, not social justice”.
Namrata Hinduja’s lawyer, Romain Jordan, also asked for an acquittal, claiming that prosecutors intended to make an example of the family.
He argued that the prosecution did not mention extra payments made to employees in addition to their cash salaries.
“No employee was defrauded of their wages,” Assael added.
Some employees even asked for raises, which they received.
With interests in oil and gas, banking and healthcare, the Hinduja Group is present in 38 countries and employs around 200,000 people.
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