Winterkorn and Diesel scandal: Charges against former VW boss for perjury

In his testimony to the U-committee in 2017, ex-VW boss Winterkorn denied knowing of fraud with exhaust emissions at an early stage. It was a lie, Berlin’s public prosecutor is certain – and accuses Winterkorn.

Berlin’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged former VW boss Martin Winterkorn of making false statements to the Bundestag’s investigative committee in the emissions case. The authority said the now 74-year-old is said to have “deliberately misinformed” when he was informed about the use of software to manipulate exhaust gas values. The indictment was brought to the Berlin Regional Court.

In his testimony before the investigative shot, Winterkorn denied knowing about the manipulation before the Diesel scandal came to light in September 2015. According to the indictment, however, he “before May 2015 knew that the engine control software of some VW vehicles was equipped with a software function to manipulate exhaust gas values ​​in test operation”.

Fraud trial to begin in September

Winterkorn also has to answer in front of the regional court in Braunschweig – as the diesel scandal itself happens. There it is accused of commercial and gang fraud. Winterkorn has already denied the allegation.

Testing in Braunschweig is scheduled to begin in September. A total of over 130 days of talks are scheduled. Other former or current managers have also been charged or are facing trial in this case.

The group demanded record compensation

A case of millions of fake exhaust gas values ​​in VW diesel vehicles was exposed in the United States in September 2015. At this time, Winterkorn had been CEO for more than eight years. He resigned in September 2015. At the time, the carmaker admitted that it had installed software in some diesel engines that reduced nitrogen oxide emissions only on test benches, but not in road traffic.

doubt, that Winterkorn already knew about it, has been in the room for a long time. VW demands from its former CEO More than one billion euros in damage. Corporate boards in Germany have never been asked this much before.