The trial of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, tried in Germany in the “dieselgate” affair, is suspended until at least the first months of 2025, the accused being unable to participate in hearings for health reasons. This was announced on Tuesday, October 1, by the court in Brunswick, in the north of the country.
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Martin Winterkorn, now aged 77, has been on criminal trial since September 3 in Brunswick, not far from the group’s historic headquarters in Wolfsburg, for “dieselgate”, almost nine years after the revelation of this engine scandal. faked with worldwide impact.
The state of health of the former boss of the leading European car manufacturer has been hanging over this trial for several years now. Initially scheduled for fall 2021 with four other former leaders, it was postponed and dissociated due to the fragile state of health of Martin Winterkorn, who had to undergo several surgical interventions.
The accused was supposed to travel to Brunswick twice a week, from his home in Munich, southern Germany. Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to installing software to rig the emissions levels of millions of diesel vehicles around the world, triggering one of Germany’s biggest post-war industrial scandals. His former boss from 2007 to 2015 risks up to 10 years in prison. He denies all accusations.
Faking diesel vehicle emissions levels
Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to installing software to rig the emissions levels of millions of diesel vehicles around the world, triggering one of Germany’s biggest post-war industrial scandals. Martin Winterkorn is accused of having allowed the sale of vehicles equipped with fake software, while according to the prosecution, he was aware of “ no later than May 2014 » fraud. The ex-CEO is also accused of having deliberately failed to inform the markets in a timely manner of the financial risks linked to this fraud.
During the first hearings, Martin Winterkorn judged “ inconceivable » the accusations against him. He admitted to having been “ closely related » to “dieselgate” through his management functions, but refuted any involvement in the development of the rigged engines.
Since 2015, Volkswagen has had to spend around 30 billion euros in refundscompensation and legal costs, mainly in the United States where the group pleaded guilty to fraud and obstruction of justice.
Also read“Dieselgate” scandal: trial of former Volkswagen CEO begins in Germany