The Geneva Criminal Court on Friday handed down prison sentences of 4 and a half and 4 years against the members of the wealthy Indian Hinduja family, without however finding human trafficking.
The Hinduja “will therefore be acquitted of human trafficking”, because the “capacity of determination” of the complaining Indian employees was “not annihilated”, declared the president of the Geneva criminal court, in the absence of the four warned.
The four members of the Hinduja family – one of the most powerful in India and the United Kingdom – were accused of having exploited the staff of their villa near Geneva. The salary of domestic staff was between 220 and 400 francs per month, which is far below what a domestic worker can hope to earn.
Their trial before the Geneva courts resumed on June 10 and an amicable and secret agreement was reached with the three employees who were suing the family.
>> On the subject, read: At the Hinduja trial in Geneva, billionaires reach a financial agreement with their former employees
Up to five and a half years in prison required
The first prosecutor Yves Bertossa had requested a custodial sentence of five and a half years against the 78-year-old father and his 75-year-old wife. Both had been absent since the start of the trial for health reasons.
The prosecutor had also requested four and a half years in prison against their 56-year-old son and their 50-year-old daughter-in-law.
The Hinduja conglomerate is present in 38 countries and employs around 200,000 people.
Development follows
agencies/juma
#Swiss
