Britain's Richest Family Sentenced to Prison for Exploiting Staff in Swiss Mansion

[Social Media]

 

Britain’s wealthiest family have been handed prison sentences for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. The Hindujas, a family with an estimated fortune of £37 billion, faced charges that exposed a darker side of their opulent lifestyle. 

 

The Swiss court found Prakash Hinduja and his wife, Kamal, each guilty and sentenced them to four years and six months in prison. Their son, Ajay, and his wife, Namrata, received four-year terms. While the family was acquitted of human trafficking, they were convicted of other serious charges related to the exploitation of their domestic staff. The verdict marked a stunning blow to the prestigious family, known for their immense wealth and business empire.

 

The case arose from the family’s practice of bringing servants from India to work in their Geneva residence. The accusations included allegations of passport confiscation and severe restrictions on the staff’s freedom once they arrived in Switzerland. Prosecutors argued that the Hindujas paid their employees meager wages and allowed them little liberty to leave the mansion. In response, the family denied these allegations, claiming that the prosecution aimed to tarnish their reputation.

 

Despite reaching a confidential out-of-court settlement with the three employees who brought the accusations, the prosecution pursued the case due to the severity of the charges. Geneva prosecutor Yves Bertossa sought custodial sentences of five and a half years for Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, citing their exploitation of vulnerable employees to save money. Both Prakash, aged 78, and Kamal, aged 75, were absent from the trial, citing health issues.

 

In his closing argument, Bertossa accused the Hindujas of exploiting the “asymmetrical situation” between powerful employers and vulnerable employees. He highlighted the paltry salaries paid to the household staff, which ranged between 220 and 400 Swiss francs (£195-£350) a month, significantly below the standard wages in Switzerland. “They’re profiting from the misery of the world,” Bertossa declared.

 

Defense lawyers for the Hinduja family argued that the plaintiffs were provided ample benefits and were free to leave the villa. Nicolas Jeandin, one of the defense attorneys, contended that the employees were not mistreated slaves but rather individuals who were “grateful to the Hindujas for offering them a better life.” Robert Assael, another defense lawyer, insisted that no employee was cheated out of their salary, emphasizing that payments were made in addition to their cash salaries.

 

Representing Ajay Hinduja, Yael Hayat criticized the prosecution’s indictment as excessive and argued that the trial should focus on justice rather than social justice. Similarly, Romain Jordan, representing Namrata Hinduja, claimed that the prosecutors aimed to make an example out of the family and failed to acknowledge additional payments made to the staff.

 

The Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate with interests in oil and gas, banking, and healthcare, operates in 38 countries and employs approximately 200,000 people. This high-profile case, however, has cast a shadow over the family’s business empire, raising questions about the treatment of domestic staff by wealthy employers.

 

The verdict has not only brought to light the exploitation faced by the staff at the Geneva mansion but also highlighted broader issues of labor rights and fair treatment of employees, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The case serves as a reminder that wealth and power come with significant responsibilities, and the abuse of such power can lead to serious legal and ethical consequences.

 

Related Topic:

UK's Richest Family Spent More on Dog Than Their Servant.

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-06-24

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Skipalongcassidy]

It's a cultural thing... they might be british citizens but they are not british... clear case of bringing with you the values of your culture when you make a geographical relocation.

[thaibeachlovers]

Excellent news. I hope they do end up in jail and don't escape to some place they can't be extradited from.

[Bangkok Barry]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

Both Prakash, aged 78, and Kamal, aged 75, were absent from the trial, citing health issues.

 

If they were Thai and were to serve prison time in Thailand - which would never happen because of their wealth - they'd be given a comfortable hospital suite rather than a cell. But they aren't, so they won't.

[giddyup]

6 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

If they were Thai and were to serve prison time in Thailand - which would never happen because of their wealth - they'd be given a comfortable hospital suite rather than a cell. But they aren't, so they won't.

Can't imagine a Swiss jail could be all that bad.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 minute ago, giddyup said:

7 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

If they were Thai and were to serve prison time in Thailand - which would never happen because of their wealth - they'd be given a comfortable hospital suite rather than a cell. But they aren't, so they won't.

Can't imagine a Swiss jail could be all that bad.

 

When they compare it to living in a billionaire lifestyle mansion, they might not agree with you.

[Lokie]

Well, too ill to attend hearing, but at moment they are all in Monaco... So you really think they will ever end up in a prison? Mmm..., millionaires convicted but escape punishment? Now where have we heard that before... Money No1

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

When they compare it to living in a billionaire lifestyle mansion, they might not agree with you.

True, but it wouldn't be sleeping on a mat on the floor and sharing a cell with cockroaches, although that's exactly what they deserve.

[JonnyF]

Well done Switzerland. If you want to live in Europe, you have to abide by European laws.

 

I believe they are in Dubai at the moment so I doubt they'll be voluntarily booking a flight to jail any time soon. 

[Grumpy one]

There I was thinking Charlie and clan would have held the title for richest family in Britain  

[hellohello123]

If youre a squilllionaire why cant you pay them a fair wage?

 

Or the fact i think like that just proves that im not rich??

[scorecard]

Well they should be severely punished.

 

I've worked in India, many times seen staff in the office (including well qualified senior accountants and junior staff) strongly abused.

 

Their boss was a 24 yo niece of the conglomerate owner, if the staff (any staff, di  / all levels didn't instantly stand up and respond to her demand for their attention (perhaps on the phone lookin in the opposite direction and conducting a business conversation) she would pick up a heavy book and throw it at them, across the room f needed.

 

There was a 15 yo office boy, he was always clean and neat and keen to work, he responded very quickly and politely; the 24yo boss would often march up to him and smack his face hard both directions and yell in his face 'not fast enough'. On one occasion she also smacked the bottom of the try he was carrying with coffee and tea cups, a cup flew up and cut his face.  Boss lady abused him and did nothing to attend to the blood on his face.  Other staff all quick smart put their heads down and got on with their work. The boy had a clean handkerchief, he used that to try to stop the bleeding but ensuring he continued to do his work.

 

 

[sanabavy IV]

Oh! those are the richest Brits...

[vangrop]

Anybody surprised? Despite some apparences of modernized country, India has all the characterics of a third world  country. The happy few very rich and an overwhelming majority of poor people. This sustained by theirMiddle Ages cast system. 

[CanadaSam]

My parents were quite wealthy when we first arrived in Canada decades ago.

 

It was virtually impossible for my mum to try and look after the house, the kids, etc., after being pampered literally like a princess all her life.

 

So, they tried to bring in servants from various countries at various times. 

 

This was not cheap, and required a lot of paperwork, and also the giving of personal assurances that the "imported" staff would leave the country when their visa was over.

 

It would never happen.  Invariably, no matter how high their salary, there were always family "friends" who would poach them, by offering a higher salary.

 

Or, they themselves would just disappear one day, for greener pastures, never to be seen again (leaving my folks in a bit of trouble for guarantees given on their behalf).

 

So, I can understand taking away their passports, and also limiting their freedom, due to the difficulties in importing and keeping track of domestic staff.

 

What I can not understand, is them being underpaid, by billionaires!

 

At the least, perhaps homes could have been bought for them in their home countries, or monies deposited in fixed deposits for their benefit down the road?

 

Cheating poor people, by extremely rich people, IMO a huge no-no.  Throw the book at them!

 

 

[scorecard]

10 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

My parents were quite wealthy when we first arrived in Canada decades ago.

 

It was virtually impossible for my mum to try and look after the house, the kids, etc., after being pampered literally like a princess all her life.

 

So, they tried to bring in servants from various countries at various times. 

 

This was not cheap, and required a lot of paperwork, and also the giving of personal assurances that the "imported" staff would leave the country when their visa was over.

 

It would never happen.  Invariably, no matter how high their salary, there were always family "friends" who would poach them, by offering a higher salary.

 

Or, they themselves would just disappear one day, for greener pastures, never to be seen again (leaving my folks in a bit of trouble for guarantees given on their behalf).

 

So, I can understand taking away their passports, and also limiting their freedom, due to the difficulties in importing and keeping track of domestic staff.

 

What I can not understand, is them being underpaid, by billionaires!

 

At the least, perhaps homes could have been bought for them in their home countries, or monies deposited in fixed deposits for their benefit down the road?

 

Cheating poor people, by extremely rich people, IMO a huge no-no.  Throw the book at them!

 

 

"So, I can understand taking away their passports".

 

They are human beings, entitled to equal status in every way. Nobody has the right to withhold their passport, never.

 

(In reality a passport is owned by the issuing country.)

[scorecard]

23 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

My parents were quite wealthy when we first arrived in Canada decades ago.

 

It was virtually impossible for my mum to try and look after the house, the kids, etc., after being pampered literally like a princess all her life.

 

So, they tried to bring in servants from various countries at various times. 

 

This was not cheap, and required a lot of paperwork, and also the giving of personal assurances that the "imported" staff would leave the country when their visa was over.

 

It would never happen.  Invariably, no matter how high their salary, there were always family "friends" who would poach them, by offering a higher salary.

 

Or, they themselves would just disappear one day, for greener pastures, never to be seen again (leaving my folks in a bit of trouble for guarantees given on their behalf).

 

So, I can understand taking away their passports, and also limiting their freedom, due to the difficulties in importing and keeping track of domestic staff.

 

What I can not understand, is them being underpaid, by billionaires!

 

At the least, perhaps homes could have been bought for them in their home countries, or monies deposited in fixed deposits for their benefit down the road?

 

Cheating poor people, by extremely rich people, IMO a huge no-no.  Throw the book at them!

 

 

"What I can not understand, is them being underpaid, by billionaires!"  That's how they became rich - don't pay your bills! Trump.

 

"So, I can understand taking away their passports, and also limiting their freedom, due to the difficulties in importing and keeping track of domestic staff"

 

- They have no right whatever, regardless of any circumstances to hold someone's passport.  Can't hold someone responsible for the activity of other unrelated people.

 

I'm aware of a case about 20 years back of an expat family from Europe living in Bkk, they had a timid Filipino maid, she had been with the family for some 20 years across 3 or 4 countries, she had wanted to go back to her family in the Philippines for a long time but the family had locked up her passport and she couldn't escape.  A farang lawyer came to the house to pick up some documents (not connected to the maid), she took the risk of speaking to the lawyer. Within the same day the RTP had got her out of the house and into the sanctuary of the Philippines embassy in Bkk. Then quickly on a flight to Manila.

 

European husband and wife did 3 or 4 years jail. 

 

 

[bendejo]

An Indian couple in Berkeley, California (sometimes referred to as The People's Republic Berkeley) were taken to court for abusing their Asian housemaid, did things like torture her with a laundry iron when they were displeased, and so on.  The sentence was severe, can't recall exactly, but it was around 20 years for each of them.  No sympathy from me.  More countries need to step up.  You hear that Malaysia?  Very common to hear of Indonesian domestic workers being treated as described in the OP over there.

 

This confiscating of passports is one of the pillars of human trafficking operations, even for the Asian massagee parlors in the US, one of which is in Jupiter, Florida and is supposedly popular with patrons of a notorious, nearby golf course. 

Jupiter spa owner arrested in prostitution, human-trafficking bust

 

[Tug]

I hope these specimens get a nice long term in a really really filthy prison and bendeho I remember that case from berzikley lo life trash I don’t care how much money they have!