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Under the microscope once more: Winterkorn's role in the diesel scandal
Nearly a decade following the Volkswagen diesel scandal's public unfolding, the German legal system prepares to delve into the events surrounding ex-CEO Martin Winterkorn's involvement. The Regional Court of Braunschweig has meticulously planned over 90 court sessions, set to stretch until September 2025, with the proceedings commencing on September 3rd. However, the looming health concerns surrounding the 77-year-old Winterkorn have raised queries about his ability to regularly travel from Bavaria to Lower Saxony for the two-day trial sessions.
Only weeks prior, Winterkorn underwent another knee operation due to a serious medical incident, leading to a rehabilitation stay. Despite the operation's reported success, his physical strength remains in question, as does his potential attendance for the trials. As history has shown, health-related disruptions have previously impacted the proceedings, adding to the ongoing uncertainty.
Previously, Winterkorn was scheduled to stand trial alongside four other former VW executives and engineers since September 2021. These charges included commercial and organized fraud relating to the software manipulation scheme. However, days before the trial, a medical report declared Winterkorn unfit due to multiple hip surgeries, prompting the separation of his case from the trial. This decision, which was met with criticism, aims to reevaluate Winterkorn's actions and knowledge in court.
A preview of the charges against Winterkorn, recently released by the Economic Crimes Chamber, sheds light on the specific accusations. These include commercial fraud, market manipulation, and false sworn statements, among others. Winterkorn is accused of misleading consumers about the car's characteristics and failing to timely inform the stock market about the risks associated with the penalty payments in September 2015. Additionally, Winterkorn allegedly made a false statement before the German Parliamentary Investigative Committee in 2017.
Initially affecting about 9 million vehicles in Europe and the United States, the diesel scandal was uncovered by environmental investigations in September 2015. The ensuing legal quagmire wrought significant financial losses, forcing the company to spend billions on resolving the issue. Winterkorn resigned following the revelations, admitting that he had become inextricably linked to the scandal.
Regardless of his continuous health issues, the ongoing examination of the diesel business scandal involving nearly 9 million affected vehicles seems inescapable.
