Trial Begins for UK’s Wealthiest Family Accused of Human Trafficking in Switzerland.
By Caroline Ameh
Four members of the Hinduja family, renowned as the UK’s richest family with an estimated worth of £37 billion ($47 billion), have commenced trial in Switzerland on charges of human trafficking and exploitation on Tuesday.
The taking place in Geneva, centers around allegations that the family treated their household servants from India in a manner described as deplorable, contrasting sharply with their lavish lifestyle in Geneva’s affluent Cologny neighborhood.
The accused individuals include Prakash Hinduja, Kamal Hinduja, their son Ajay, and his wife Namrata. They are accused of confiscating passports of their domestic staff, paying them as little as $8 (£7) for grueling 18-hour workdays, and severely limiting their freedom to leave the Hinduja villa.
While a financial settlement over exploitation allegations was recently reached, the family continues to face serious charges of trafficking under Swiss law. The prosecution, led by Geneva’s prominent prosecutor Yves Bertossa, has drawn attention to the stark contrast between the almost $10,000 a year reportedly spent on the family dog and the meager daily wages allegedly paid to the household staff.
The defense, represented by the Hinduja family’s legal team, did not dispute the low wage allegations directly but argued that the compensation should be viewed in context, highlighting that the staff received accommodation and meals.
The trial has also delved into disputes over working hours, with defense lawyers arguing that certain activities, such as watching films with the Hinduja children, should not be classified as work. Former servants called to testify for the family have described them as friendly and respectful employers, attempting to counterbalance the serious accusations of passport confiscation and restriction of movement.
Yves Bertossa has pushed for severe penalties including prison sentences, substantial compensation payouts, and coverage of legal fees if the family is found guilty of trafficking, a grave offense under Swiss law.
The case has once again brought Geneva’s darker realities to the forefront. Despite its reputation as a city of peace and international diplomacy, Geneva has faced multiple instances of alleged mistreatment of domestic staff by wealthy individuals. Previous incidents include the 2008 arrest of Hannibal Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, for accusations of assaulting his servants in a Geneva hotel, sparking a significant diplomatic incident between Switzerland and Libya.
Most recently, four Filipino domestic workers filed a case against a Geneva-based diplomatic mission to the United Nations, alleging years of unpaid wages.
The ongoing trial of the Hinduja family promises to shed further light on these issues, amplifying scrutiny on Geneva’s treatment of household staff amid its global prominence.
