Britain’s wealthiest Hinduja family is on trial in Switzerland for human trafficking after they are accused of paying an Indian domestic helper at their Lake Geneva villa too low a wage. Prosecutors claim the Hindujas paid an employee just seven Swiss francs (about £6.19) for an 18-hour workday, while spending 8,584 francs (£7,616) annually on their pet dog. Prosecutor Yves Bertossa has demanded the family pay 1 million francs for court costs and 3.5 million francs to a workers’ compensation fund.

The Hinduja brothers reportedly confiscated the passport of the Indian domestic help.

The trial in the human trafficking case involving four members of the Hinduja family – Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, their son Ajay and his wife Namrata – began in Switzerland on Monday. Three plaintiffs have withdrawn their civil suit against the family following a recent settlement, the Daily Mail reports.

The lawsuit alleges that the billionaire family took away the passports of their employees and prevented them from leaving the house without permission. The employees were paid salaries in India (in Indian rupees), leaving them without Swiss currency while they were in the country.

According to the report, prosecutors claimed that the Hinduja family spent more on their pet dog than on a staff member.

Citing a budget document titled “Petes,” prosecutor Yves Bertossa told the court that a female employee received just 7 Swiss francs ($7.84) for working 15 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

He said the amount was less than the 8,584 Swiss francs he spends on his dog each year.

Hinduja family denied the allegations

The Hinduja family denied the allegations, saying their employees were treated with respect and dignity. They claim prosecutors exaggerated working hours and falsified salaries, reports the Daily Mail.

Ajay’s lawyer, Yael Hayat, argued that in addition to salaries, employees were also provided with housing and food facilities, and some workers said they were treated well.

The lawyer also said that one employee told her that her salary was better than what she was getting in India. He said that the woman had willingly accepted the job in Geneva and returned repeatedly.

Ajayi testified that he did not have full information about the working conditions of the employees because the Hinduja Group in India handled the recruitment. He said that now the employees are paid formally, and all the appointments are done locally through a third-party agency.

Prosecutor seeks compensation for Hinduja family employees

The human trafficking trial is going on against four members of the Hinduja family – Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, their son Ajay and his wife Namrata.

Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, 78 and 75 years old, did not attend the hearing, citing health reasons. Prosecutor Bertossa criticised their absence, saying they could have arranged a shorter flight from Cannes to Geneva.

Bertossa recommended five and a half years in prison for Prakash and Kamal and four and a half years for Ajay and Namrata. He also asked the family to pay 1 million francs for court costs and 3.5 million francs to a workers’ compensation fund.

The Hinduja family, with a net worth of over £37 billion, is the richest in Britain, according to The Sunday Times Rich List. They own some of the finest real estate in London, including the Raffles Hotel at the Old War Office in Whitehall, which charges £25,000 per night for a premier suite.