Prakash Hinduje, a Swiss billionaire with Indian roots, listened to the court verdict with his family members: prison sentences of four to four and a half years for exploiting domestic workers.
The prosecution proved that Workers brought from India had their passports taken away, were forbidden to leave their homes, and were forced to work up to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. They were paid in rupees into Indian bank accounts, which the workers did not have access to. It was stated in court that the defendants were guilty of:
- exploitation of workers;
- provision of illegal employment;
- failure to provide health insurance;
- payment of wages that were less than 1/10 for similar work in Switzerland.
However The court rejected the more serious charges of human trafficking: the people hired were aware, at least in part, of the conditions under which they would work.
In addition to 79-year-old Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, son Ajay and daughter-in-law Namrata were sentenced to prison terms. The fifth defendant, family manager Najib Ziazi, was given an 18-month suspended sentence.
Lawyers representing the family said they would appeal. And last week it became known that The defendants reached an agreement with the plaintiffs, the details of which were not disclosed.
Swiss authorities previously confiscated diamonds, rubies, a platinum necklace and other jewelry, which could be used to pay legal costs and possible fines.
Prakash Hinduja, tells Euronews, together with three brothers, heads an industrial conglomerate in sectors such as information technology, media, energy, real estate and healthcare. Forbes magazine estimates the Hinduja family's wealth at approximately $20 billion.
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