4 members of Britain’s wealthiest household, the Hindujas, have been discovered responsible of exploiting Indian employees at their Geneva mansion. The Hindujas, whose fortunes are estimated to be round $47 billion, face jail phrases of round 4 years.

A Swiss courtroom on Friday convicted them of exploitation and unlawful employment, however acquitted them of a extra critical cost of human trafficking. It ordered 4 years and 6 months’ jail time period for Prakash Hinduja his spouse Kamal Hinduja, and handed their son Ajay and his Namrata four-year phrases every.

The Hindujas have challenged the decision in the next courtroom.

Prosecutors alleged the Hindujas paid their employees solely $8 for working 18 hours a day, lower than a tenth of the minimal wage beneath Swiss regulation. Additionally they confiscated their passport.

The Hindujas hardly ever allowed them to go away the home in Geneva’s rich neighbourhood of Cologny. They spent extra on their canine than on their servants, the prosecutors informed the courtroom through the trial.

The Hindujas had denied the allegations and mentioned their staff have been free depart the villa and obtained ample advantages. The defence argued that the workers have been “grateful” to the Hindujas for “providing them a greater life.”

They’d additionally reached an out-of-court settlement with the three staff, however the prosecution pursued the case as a result of gravity of the fees.

Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, each of their 70s, didn’t attend the courtroom attributable to well being causes. Ajay and Namrata had attended the trial however weren’t current on Friday to listen to the decision.

The Hinduja Group, which is current in 38 international locations, has pursuits in oil and gasoline, banking and healthcare.