SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Verdict: Billionaire family exploited their staff

A court in Switzerland has acquitted four people from Britain's richest family of human trafficking charges – but sentences them to prison for at least four years for lesser charges.

» Updated: 06 July 2024, 23:05

» Published: 21 June 2024

Verdict: Billionaire family exploited their staff
Photo: Louis Dasselborne/AP/TT

A court in Switzerland has acquitted four people from the UK's richest family of human trafficking charges – but has sentenced them to at least four years in prison for lesser charges.

The court believes that members of the Hinduja family have made themselves guilty of exploiting employees – who were flown from their home country of India to work at the family's villa in Swiss Cologny – and employed them on unlawful grounds.

A financial settlement was reached earlier for three employees regarding allegations of exploitation. Despite this, the prosecutor decided to pursue the case due to the severity of the allegations.

However, the court believes that the family's treatment of the employees did not constitute human trafficking, as the employees understood what they were getting themselves into.

The family has, among other things, been accused of confiscating the employees' passports, having strict limitations on when they could leave the house, and paying the staff as little as the equivalent of approximately 80 kronor for 18-hour work shifts.

The family has denied the allegations. Defence lawyers have said that the wages need to be seen in context, as the staff also received food and accommodation.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

UN: Northern Gaza Without Aid for 40 Days
1 MIN READ

UN: Northern Gaza Without Aid for 40 Days

Doctors Without Borders Stop Operations in Haiti
1 MIN READ

Doctors Without Borders Stop Operations in Haiti

Reports: Opposition Leader in Uganda Abducted
1 MIN READ

Reports: Opposition Leader in Uganda Abducted

Trump saw Musk's rocket rise – and fall
1 MIN READ

Trump saw Musk's rocket rise – and fall

USA on Venezuela: The Opposition Leader is President
1 MIN READ

USA on Venezuela: The Opposition Leader is President

Dr. Oz takes a seat in Trump's government
1 MIN READ

Dr. Oz takes a seat in Trump's government

Israel Offers Reward to Free Hostages
2 MIN READ

Israel Offers Reward to Free Hostages

Forssell: Time for EU Proposals on Deportations
3 MIN READ

Forssell: Time for EU Proposals on Deportations

Prosecutors Open to Postponing Trump's Sentence
2 MIN READ

Prosecutors Open to Postponing Trump's Sentence

Haitian Police Killed 28 Alleged Gang Criminals
1 MIN READ

Haitian Police Killed 28 Alleged Gang Criminals

Ukraine Approves Large War Budget for 2025
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Approves Large War Budget for 2025

Minister blamed women's murders on migrants
1 MIN READ

Minister blamed women's murders on migrants

North Macedonia gets top post in NATO
1 MIN READ

North Macedonia gets top post in NATO

After the Fiasco: The Royal Couple Back in Valencia
2 MIN READ

After the Fiasco: The Royal Couple Back in Valencia

Russian threat after Ukrainian Atacms missile strike
2 MIN READ

Russian threat after Ukrainian Atacms missile strike

Soldiers arrested for plot to murder Lula
2 MIN READ

Soldiers arrested for plot to murder Lula

Poland: Room for Defense Obligations in the EU
1 MIN READ

Poland: Room for Defense Obligations in the EU

Danish Prime Minister arrives in Kyiv on her birthday
1 MIN READ

Danish Prime Minister arrives in Kyiv on her birthday

Drones struck a multi-story building – twelve dead
2 MIN READ

Drones struck a multi-story building – twelve dead

Pélicot: Must change how we view rape
1 MIN READ

Pélicot: Must change how we view rape