Since early September, former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn (77) has had to answer to the court about the diesel affair. He is accused of commercial fraud, market manipulation and false statements. But after an accident, Winterkorn ends up in hospital. The proceedings have been interrupted.
The regional court of Braunschweig did not provide details about the accident “in the domestic environment”. How long the interruption in the process will last is still unclear. Originally, 90 days of negotiations were planned until September 2025.
The emission manipulation of millions of VW vehicles was brought to light in September 2015 by investigations by US environmental authorities and scientists. The affair plunged the car manufacturer into the worst crisis in the company’s history. The legal handling of the events has now cost billions of euros.
Winterkorn denies the accusations
Winterkorn denies all allegations against himself. In his opening statement, “Mr. Volkswagen,” as he is also known, said: “The accusation by the public prosecutor that I, in my role as CEO, did not take the necessary measures, deceived and damaged customers and shareholders and thereby made myself liable to prosecution, strikes me – ultimately from my professional path – very seriously.”
An initial trial against Winterkorn was temporarily halted in early 2021 for health reasons.
Source: Krone
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