Ex-Volkswagen managers convicted of fraud in emissions scandal
A German court has convicted four former Volkswagen managers of fraud and handed down prison sentences to two of them for their part in the manipulation of emissions controls.
The verdicts come almost a decade after a scandal erupted over the company's rigging of diesel-engine vehicles.
The former head of diesel development was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, and the head of drive train electronics to two years and seven months by the court in Braunschweig, according to German news agency, Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
Two others received suspended sentences of 15 months and 10 months.
The scandal began in September 2015 when the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation, saying that Volkswagen had rigged engine control software that let the cars pass tests while they emitted far more pollution in actual driving.
The company has paid more than €29 billion in fines and compensation to vehicle owners.
Two VW managers received prison sentences in the United States.
Former head of the company's Audi division, Rupert Stadler, was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and a fine of €1.1 million. The sentence is subject to appeal.
Missing from the trial, which lasted almost four years, was former chief executive Martin Winterkorn.
Proceedings against him have been suspended because of health issues, and it is not clear when he might go on trial. Mr Winterkorn has denied wrongdoing.
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