A Swiss court on Friday sentenced Prakash Hinduja, a prominent Indian-born businessman, and three of his family members to four and a half years in prison. They were found guilty of exploiting their domestic workers. However, the court dismissed the more severe charges of human trafficking. Alongside Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, son Ajay, and daughter-in-law Namrata faced accusations related to the treatment of their domestic staff, primarily illiterate workers from India. These workers were employed at the Hinduja familys luxurious lakeside villa in Geneva.Business manager receives suspended sentenceThe familys business manager, Najib Ziazi, was also implicated in the case. He received an 18-month suspended sentence, showing the courts recognition of his lesser involvement compared to the Hinduja family.Four members of the billionaire #Hinduja family found guilty of illegally exploiting Indian servants at their luxury Geneva villa. Prakash Hinduja and his wife, son and daughter-in-law —were cleared of human trafficking charges but were given prison term for exploiting the staff.— Shilpa (@shilpakannan) June 21, 2024Details of exploitationThe courts findings revealed that the Hinduja family exploited their workers, providing unauthorized employment and confiscating their passports. The employees were paid in Indian rupees rather than Swiss francs, restricted from leaving the villa, and forced to work excessively long hours.Settlement with plaintiffsReports emerged last week indicating that the Hindujas had reached an undisclosed settlement with the plaintiffs. This development suggests a possible attempt by the family to mitigate the legal repercussions and address the grievances of their employees.Prosecutors had launched an extensive investigation into the alleged illegal activities, which included exploitation, human trafficking, and breaches of Swiss labor laws. The findings painted a grim picture of the working conditions imposed on the domestic staff.Seizure of assetsIn anticipation of legal fees and potential penalties, Swiss authorities had already seized valuable assets from the Hinduja family. These assets included diamonds, rubies, a platinum necklace, and other jewelry, underscoring the seriousness of the charges.Workers harsh conditionsAccording to prosecutors, the workers were subjected to extreme working conditions, often laboring up to 18 hours a day with minimal or no vacation. Their compensation was shockingly low, amounting to less than one-tenth of the legally required minimum wage in Switzerland.Employees complaints about harsh environmentThe employees described a harsh environment under the supervision of Kamal Hinduja, Prakashs wife. They reported being made to work late into the night for events and being relegated to sleeping in the villas basement. Communication barriers further isolated them, as they only spoke Hindi and received their wages in inaccessible Indian bank accounts.
