The 42-year-old Swiss is alleged to have exploited Hungarian and Moldovan construction workers over a period of years.
The man allegedly lured the workers to Switzerland with attractive working conditions. However, he did not pay the promised wages but only certain lump sums, the prosecution said in its indictment.
If the construction workers rebelled, the contractor allegedly intimidated them with a stun gun or threatened them with immediate dismissal without any payment.
The prosecution also accuses the man of misappropriation. He is alleged to have used over CHF600,000 ($650,000) from his companies for private purposes.
The building contractor sat in pre-trial detention for almost three years. The punishment demanded by the prosecution and the arguments of the defence will become clear in the course of the trial.
More
More
Sharp rise in human trafficking victims in Switzerland
This content was published on
The number of victims of human trafficking increased by 50% between 2019 and 2021 in Switzerland.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Nestle Chair says CEO change was prompted by growth concerns
This content was published on
The abrupt replacement of Nestle SA’s chief executive officer was prompted by worries over the food and beverage company’s growth outlook, Nestlé Chair Paul Bulcke told Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Four out of five donor hearts for Swiss children come from abroad
This content was published on
Four out of five donor hearts which are transplanted into Swiss children come from outside the Alpine country, according to the director of Swisstransplant.
Climber dies on the Matterhorn in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
A climber died on Thursday after falling with a partner while descending the Matterhorn, near Zermatt, in southern Switzerland. The other mountaineer suffered minor injuries.
This content was published on
The Dalai Lama has arrived in Switzerland for a short visit. Hundreds of Tibetans welcomed him at an airport hotel in Opfikon, near Zurich, on Friday.
Sudan: Swiss among mediators calling for continuous flow of aid
This content was published on
The seven parties, including Switzerland, who led ten days of talks on Sudan in the Geneva region, are calling for the new flow of aid to “continue and accelerate”.
Coo d’état: Basel struggles to enforce pigeon-feeding ban
This content was published on
Police in the Swiss canton of Basel City have issued only eight fines since the ban on pigeon feeding came into force in July 2020.
Nestlé CEO Schneider was ousted, paving way for veteran Freixe, sources say
This content was published on
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider was ousted in a sudden move by the world’s biggest foodmaker as a result of the group’s underperformance.
Swiss police help dismantle Romanian human trafficking ring
This content was published on
A joint investigation involving Swiss and Romanian police has led to the arrest of several members of a gang charged with exploiting young women for prostitution.
Swiss asylum system to better detect victims of trafficking
This content was published on
A working group led by the State Secretariat for Migration has called for better detection and support for potential victims of trafficking within the asylum system.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.