In January 2021, the Braunschweig Regional Court ruled that the proceedings against Winterkorn should be discontinued because of the threat of a significantly higher sentence in the diesel manipulation fraud process, which is also ongoing in Braunschweig.
(Photo: Reuters)
Hamburg Ex-Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn may have to answer in court for possible violations of the Securities Trading Act in the diesel scandal. The Braunschweig Higher Regional Court ruled that the regional court might not want to resume the proceedings against the 74-year-old, wrongly. It ordered the court to rule again on the prosecutor’s request.
In January 2021, the Braunschweig Regional Court ruled that the proceedings against Winterkorn should be discontinued because of the threat of a significantly higher sentence in the diesel manipulation fraud process, which is also ongoing in Braunschweig. However, this expectation was not fulfilled, since the case against Winterkorn was separated from the criminal proceedings due to his health.
Under pressure from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Volkswagen admitted almost seven years ago that it had manipulated diesel exhaust gas values using software. This ensured that the engines complied with the nitrogen oxide limit values on the test bench, but emitted a multiple of these toxic exhaust gases on the road. The reparations have cost Volkswagen more than 32 billion euros so far, mainly penalties and compensation payments in the USA.
The fraud trial against four former Volkswagen executives before the district court has been progressing slowly for months because witnesses mostly exercise their right to remain silent. In addition, numerous hearing dates had to be canceled due to the corona pandemic. So far it is unclear whether Winterkorn, who resigned in the scandal, has to appear before the court.
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In addition, a process has been running since 2018, which involves claims from mostly institutional investors in the billions. They accuse Volkswagen of keeping the information about the emissions scandal secret for a long time and thereby causing them to lose the value of their shares.
More: “He sent me away to destroy the documents” – VW engineer raises serious allegations against Winterkorn