BRAUNSCHWEIG (dpa-AFX) - The investigation into the Volkswagen diesel scandal continues: On Thursday (10:00 a.m.), another major trial against five defendants will begin at the Braunschweig Regional Court. Four men and one woman are accused of fraud, tax evasion, and illegal advertising, among other charges.
The Braunschweig public prosecutor alleges that the current and former employees, as VW executives, were responsible for deceiving authorities and customers in Europe and the United States for years regarding the emissions values of diesel vehicles. The presumption of innocence applies.
In September 2015, it came to light that instead of using more expensive emissions technology, VW had manipulated test results using hidden software codes. VW boss Martin Winterkorn was forced out of office, and the company plunged into one of its greatest crises.
Both in the United States and Germany, there have now been convictions resulting in prison sentences. For the ongoing proceedings, more than 100 court dates have been scheduled through the end of 2026./bch/DP/jha
