In a landmark ruling, four members of the UK’s wealthiest family, the Hindujas, have received prison sentences for exploiting workers brought from India to work at their luxurious villa in Geneva. The Swiss court handed down sentences ranging from four to four-and-a-half years to Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, their son Ajay, and his wife Namrata, who were found guilty of exploitation and illegal employment. However, they were acquitted on the more severe charge of human trafficking.
The defendants’ lawyers have announced plans to appeal the decision. Robert Assael, representing the Hindujas, expressed his shock at the ruling, stating, “We’re going to fight it to the bitter end.”
The case centered around three Indian workers who accused the Hinduja family of paying them as little as £7 ($8) for 18-hour workdays, far below the legal minimum wage in Switzerland. The workers also alleged their passports were confiscated, and they were rarely permitted to leave the villa located in the affluent Cologny neighborhood. Prosecutors argued that the family, whose fortune is estimated at £37 billion, spent more on their pet dog than on the workers.
In their defense, the Hindujas claimed the employees received significant benefits, were not isolated, and were free to leave the villa. “The employees were grateful to the Hindujas for offering them a better life,” argued Assael. The elder Hindujas, both over 70, did not attend the court proceedings due to ill health, while Ajay and Namrata were present but absent during the verdict announcement.
Ajay Hinduja (l) pictured arriving at court with his wife Namrata and their lawyer Robert Assael
Following the verdict, the prosecution requested immediate detention for Ajay and Namrata Hinduja, which the judge denied. Kamal Hinduja is currently hospitalized in Monaco, with the other family members at his side.
This case is not the first instance of Geneva, a city known for its affluent residents and international organizations, being scrutinized for the mistreatment of domestic workers. Last year, four Filipino workers filed a case against a Geneva diplomatic mission to the United Nations, alleging years of unpaid labor.
The Hinduja family owns the Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate with interests in various sectors including oil, gas, and banking. They also own the prestigious Raffles Hotel in London.