Four ex-Volkswagen managers found guilty over ‘dieselgate'
BERLIN : A German court today convicted and handed prison sentences, some suspended, to four former Volkswagen (VW) managers over their part in the 'dieselgate' emissions-cheating scandal, Bloomberg reported.
The scandal has caused waves in the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests.
Former VW executive Heinz-Jakob Neusser received a suspended jail term of one year and three months from the court in the city of Braunschweig, according to news agency Bloomberg.
The former head of drive electronics, named only as Hanno J, was given a sentence of two years and seven months, German media reported.
The heaviest sentence of four years and six months was given to the former head of diesel motor development, Jens Hwhile the fourth defendant was given a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months.
The defendants can appeal against the rulings.
The separate trial of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn remains suspended because of his ill health.
Auto sector analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the Center Automotive Research, judged that the case had for now ended 'with scapegoats and, in some cases, suspended sentences'.
Volkswagen said in a statement that the 'proceedings in the court in Braunschweig are against individuals' and that they had 'no significant consequences for the cases before the civil courts that Volkswagen is involved in' related to the scandal.
The four found guilty today, who have been on trial since 2021, were initially set to have their cases heard alongside that of Winterkorn.
However, the court decided to split off proceedings against Winterkorn, who was unable to appear because of ill health.
The former auto executive finally went on trial in September before the court again suspended proceedings in October, when he was not fit to take the stand.
The highest-ranking former executive to have been convicted in the scandal so far is former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.
He was was fined and given a suspended sentence in 2023 after admitting to fraud by negligence.
In February, prosecutors in France called for Volkswagen to face charges of aggravated fraud there too.
They said nearly one million French customers had to pay for servicing and repairs after the emissions breach was revealed.
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