German court convicts ex-Volkswagen managers of fraud in emissions scandal
The logos of Volkswagen cars Michael Probst/AP) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.
A German court on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen managers of fraud and gave two of them prison sentences for their part in the manipulation of emissions controls, almost a decade after the 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, German news agency dpa reported.
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 the company had rigged engine control software that let the cars pass emissions tests while they emitted far more pollution in actual driving.
The company has paid more than 33 billion euros (£27.69 billion) in fines and compensation to vehicle owners.
Two VW managers received prison sentences in the US.
The 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 euros (£920,000). The sentence is still 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. Winterkorn has denied wrongdoing.
Further proceedings are open against 31 other people in Germany.
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