Prison Sentence for Volkwagen Scandal: Boxing Federation's President Convicted
Jens Hadler, former President of the German Boxing Federation (DBV), has stepped down following a conviction in the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal. The Braunschweig Regional Court found Hadler, who was the head of diesel engine development at VW, "at the center of the storm" and sentenced him to four and a half years in prison without parole.
Hadler's role in the multi-year scandal involved the installation of illegal software in certain diesel engines produced by VW and its affiliated brands. This software enabled the vehicles to pass emissions tests by temporarily reducing emissions, while in normal driving conditions the vehicles emitted higher levels of pollutants.
The diesel scandal first came to light in September 2015. Curbing the tide of diesel cars and accelerating the shift towards electrification is a legacy of the scandal. Approximately 11 million vehicles worldwide were affected by the VW group's actions, with fines, compensation, and legal costs totaling more than €32 billion so far.
Since Hadler's resignation, Mir Farid Vatanparast has been chosen as his successor. Vatanparast will serve as a co-opted president until the election congress. Hadler expressed his satisfaction with the executive board's unity in this matter and praised Vatanparast as an excellent successor.
The DBV expressed gratitude for Hadler's years of service, praising him as a significant personality who provided numerous direction-setting impulses for the federation's development. Hadler consistently communicated openly and transparently about the court proceedings with various sports-related institutions.
Four former VW managers found guilty this week received prison sentences as part of the ongoing diesel affair. These managers were responsible for the manipulated engines, with two receiving multi-year sentences and two receiving suspended sentences. The court's verdict related to 2.3 million VW vehicles, commanding a total damage of €2.1 billion.
Sources: ntv.de, tsi/sid/AFP/dpa
- Boxing
- Volkswagen
- Emissions Scandal
- Scandals and Affairs
- Despite his involvement in the Volkswagen emissions scandal, the German Boxing Federation (DBV) acknowledged Hadler's significant contributions, citing his role as a direction-setting personality during his tenure.
- The ongoing politics and legislation surrounding the Volkswagen emissions scandal extend beyond the court proceedings, including fines, compensation, and legal costs totaling more than €32 billion.
- The Commission, in its policy-and-legislation efforts, has yet to propose a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, but the Volkswagen emissions scandal has highlighted the importance of environmental regulations and transparency in other industries, such as sports-betting and crime-and-justice, to safeguard public health and general-news interests.
