The Hinduja family, Britain’s wealthiest, are facing allegations of trafficking and exploitation of staff at their Lake Geneva villa, with claims they spent more on their pet dog than on a servant. Prosecutor Yves Bertossa revealed in Geneva’s criminal court that one worker was paid as little as seven Swiss francs (£6.19) for up to 18-hour days, seven days a week, while the family spent 8,584 Swiss francs on their dog.
The prosecution alleges that staff contracts lacked specific working hours and that employees had their passports confiscated and were not allowed to leave without permission. The Hinduja family, however, denies these claims, with their lawyers arguing that workers were treated with respect and their pay included board and lodgings.
Ajay Hinduja testified that staff recruitment was managed by the Hinduja Group in India and that hiring practices have since changed. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of five and a half years for Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, and four and a half years for Ajay and Namrata Hinduja, along with significant fines and compensation.
The family recently settled a civil case regarding worker exploitation but continues to fight the criminal charges, which resume this week.
