• Source:JND
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Hinduja Family Case:  Britain's richest family and owner of a multinational conglomerate, the Hinduja family, was handed over prison terms for exploiting the Indian staff at their mansion in Switzerland's Geneva. While the Billionaire family was acquitted of the human trafficking charges, it was convicted of other charges. According to an AFP report, the fortunes of the Hinduja family are estimated at USD 47 billion.

The parents - Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal Hinduja - were slapped a prison term of four years and six months, whereas, their son Ajay and his wife Namrata handed over four-year terms. No member of the family was present at the hearing when the presiding judge pronounced the verdict.

Hinduja Family: What Are Accusations Against Them

The staff of the Hinduja family accused them of bringing servants from India and confiscating their passports once they reached their mansion in Switzerland. The prosecution also alleged that one of the richest families in the United Kingdom, Hindujas, paid paltry salaries to their staff. The defendant argued that the prosecution targeted them to 'do in the Hindujas', AFP reported.

Earlier, the Hindujas reached a secret out-of-court settlement with three of their employees who pressed charges, however, the prosecution still decided to press charges owing to the gravity of the allegations.

Prosecution Alleged Hindujas 'Profiting From Miseraries of World'

The prosecutor in his closing arguments, accused Hindujas, the 'powerful employer', of exploiting the staff as they enjoyed an asymmetrical situation over their 'vulnerable' employees. Requesting a prison term of five and a half years against Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, the Geneva prosecutor Yves Bertossa said, "They're profiting from the misery of the world."

According to reports, the family was paying their household staff a monthly salary of 220 and 400 francs, which roughly translates to USD 250 to USD 450.

Family Argued Never Mistreated Staff, Gave Ample Benefits

The lawyer of the Hinduja family argued that all three plaintiffs were given ample benefits and were always free to leave the mansion.

We are not dealing with mistreated slaves," Nicolas Jeandin told the court. "...they were grateful to the Hindujas for offering them a better life", his fellow lawyer Robert Assael argued as quoted by AFP.