The Swiss food giant Nestlé was ordered to pay SFr 27,000 (£18,700) compensation after being found liable in a civil case over the secret infiltration of an activist group that had campaigned against it.

A court ruled last week in favour of anti-globalisation group Attac, following revelations that Nestlé had hired the Swiss security company Securitas AG to infiltrate its meetings.

A spokesman for Nestlé noted the judge's decision "with disappointment" and reiterated "that incitement to infiltration is against Nestlé's corporate business principles".