UK's Wealthiest Family Faces Charges Over Human Trafficking and Domestic Workers' Abuse in Switzerland
The richest family in the UK, the Hinduja family, has four members who are being prosecuted in Switzerland for mistreating their domestic workers.
The accusations involve human trafficking and exploitation; it is stated that Indian domestic workers received meager pay, were required to put in long hours, and had their passports seized.
The family is accused of spending more money on their dog than they did on their workers' daily salary, a fact that has been made abundantly clear by the trial.
The allegations against the family, who own a villa in the affluent Cologny neighborhood of Geneva, are all related to their hiring of Indian domestic helpers to take care of their kids and home.
The attorneys for the Hinduja family did not directly refute the claims of low pay, but they did argue that they needed to be considered in the larger picture because the employees were also receiving housing and food.
The accusation of working excessive hours was also contested, with a defense attorney contending that seeing a movie with the Hinduja kids could not be considered work.
Testifying on behalf of the Hindujas, a few former workers described them as a kind family that respected their workers. However, the claims that the servants' passports were seized and that they were not even allowed to leave the house without authorization are concerning since they can be seen as engaging in human trafficking.
In addition to millions of dollars in compensation and legal fees, Mr. Bertossa is demanding prison sentences.
The accusations involve human trafficking and exploitation; it is stated that Indian domestic workers received meager pay, were required to put in long hours, and had their passports seized.
The family is accused of spending more money on their dog than they did on their workers' daily salary, a fact that has been made abundantly clear by the trial.
The allegations against the family, who own a villa in the affluent Cologny neighborhood of Geneva, are all related to their hiring of Indian domestic helpers to take care of their kids and home.
Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, along with their son Ajay and his spouse Namrata, are accused of seizing employee passports, paying them as little as $8 (£7) for eighteen-hour workdays, and limiting their freedom to leave the house.
Despite reaching a financial deal last week regarding exploitation, the Hindujas are still facing prosecution for trafficking, a serious criminal violation in Switzerland.
Despite reaching a financial deal last week regarding exploitation, the Hindujas are still facing prosecution for trafficking, a serious criminal violation in Switzerland.
Yves Bertossa, a renowned prosecutor from Geneva, demonstrated this week in court how much the family was reportedly paying their maids each day vs the over $10,000 a year he claimed they had spent on their dog.
The accusation of working excessive hours was also contested, with a defense attorney contending that seeing a movie with the Hinduja kids could not be considered work.
Testifying on behalf of the Hindujas, a few former workers described them as a kind family that respected their workers. However, the claims that the servants' passports were seized and that they were not even allowed to leave the house without authorization are concerning since they can be seen as engaging in human trafficking.
In addition to millions of dollars in compensation and legal fees, Mr. Bertossa is demanding prison sentences.
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