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full screen The prosecutor requests a prison sentence. Archive image. Photo: Louis Dasselborne/Keystone Via AP/TT
Four people from Britain’s richest family are on trial in Switzerland accused of human trafficking.
The case concerns how the family has treated employees who, among other things, were supposed to take care of the children.
The Hinduja family is estimated to be valued at more than 490 billion Swedish kronor, reports the BBC. The allegations relate to how the family members brought in people from India to work in the family household. The Hinduja family has a villa in Cologny, Switzerland.
The people are accused of having confiscated the employees’ passports, having severe restrictions on when they can leave the house and that the staff have been paid as little as the equivalent of just over SEK 80 for 18-hour work shifts.
A financial settlement has previously been reached for allegations of exploitation, but the legal process that is still ongoing relates to human trafficking offences. The family denies the allegations.
The defense lawyers have said that the salaries need to be seen in the right context, as the staff also received food and accommodation.
As for the long working days, according to a lawyer, watching movies with the family’s children can’t really be counted as working.
Prosecutor Yves Bertossa is demanding a prison sentence and damages of several million.