German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal
German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal
Consequences continue to be meted out over the massive corporate wrongdoing.
A German regional court on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen executives of fraud in connection with the long-running Dieselgate emissions scandal.
The court sentenced two of the former executives to prison for several years, while the remaining two received suspended sentences. The ruling concludes a major trial that spanned nearly four years.
The scandal known as Dieselgate first came to light in September 2015, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered that many diesel vehicles produced by German carmaker Volkswagen were equipped with illegal so-called defeat devices.
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two of the former executives to prison for several years, while the remaining two received suspended sentences.
So, actual prison. I'm impressed.
For two department heads. Pawns they're throwing under the bus. The C-suite walks free.
They can also still appeal.
Source?
In 2019, German prosecutors charged then-CEO Herbert Diess, Chair Hans Dieter Pötsch and former CEO Martin Winterkorn
They are not the ones that have just been sentenced.
Ein ehemaliger Leiter der Dieselmotoren-Entwicklung muss für viereinhalb Jahre ins Gefängnis. Zwei Jahre und sieben Monate Haft bekam der frühere Leiter der Antriebselektronik. Der ranghöchste Angeklagte, ein Ex-Entwicklungsvorstand der Marke Volkswagen, erhielt ein Jahr und drei Monate auf Bewährung. Ein ehemaliger Abteilungsleiter wurde zu einem Jahr und zehn Monaten auf Bewährung verurteilt.
Deepl translation:
A former head of diesel engine development has been sent to prison for four and a half years. The former head of drive electronics received two years and seven months in prison. The highest-ranking defendant, an ex-board member for development at the Volkswagen brand, received a suspended sentence of one year and three months. A former department head was sentenced to one year and ten months probation.
Suspended means they walk. They are not train station pickpockets, they won't be caught red handed again next week.
Also Winterkorn's trial has been suspended for medical reasons. It's unknown if and when it will continue.
Again via deepl:
The original plan was for former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn to sit in the dock. However, his part of the trial was severed before the start in September 2021 for health reasons. Winterkorn has since testified in court both as a witness and as a defendant, firmly denying responsibility for the diesel scandal.
However, an accident with a stay in hospital interrupted the trial against the most prominent defendant. Whether and when the proceedings against the now 78-year-old can be continued is completely open.
Ya just love to see it.