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VW fraud scandal: Ex-manager sentenced to years behind bars!
Four former Volkswagen executives were convicted of fraud in the diesel scandal. Negotiations are ongoing.
VW fraud scandal: Ex-manager sentenced to years behind bars!
Four former Volkswagen executives were found guilty of fraud at the Braunschweig regional court. The Economic Criminal Chamber announced this on May 26, 2025. Two of the defendants received prison sentences of several years, while two others received suspended sentences. Loud crown This ended a process that lasted almost four years and dealt with the far-reaching VW emissions scandal.
The scandal began in September 2015, when Volkswagen in the USA had to retrospectively admit incorrect test results from emissions tests. This not only led to the resignation of the then CEO Martin Winterkorn, but also to a financial disaster for the company, which, according to the company, cost around 33 billion euros. In the current trial, the public prosecutor's office had demanded prison sentences of between two and four years, whereas the defense requested three acquittals and one warning.
Open procedures and health of winter grain
The current ruling is not yet legally binding. There are also four further criminal proceedings pending in Braunschweig against a total of 31 defendants. One of these proceedings is directed against Martin Winterkorn, whose case was separated for health reasons. Winterkorn spoke out both as a witness and as a defendant and denied responsibility for the manipulations. The trial against him is repeatedly affected by unresolved health issues, and an accident led to an interruption.
Loud The press The diesel scandal still leaves many unanswered questions. Parallel to the investigations in Germany, class action lawsuits against VW have already taken place in the USA. The US Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation that also includes fraud against regulatory authorities and customers as well as environmental violations.
Manipulations and possible consequences
The manipulation of exhaust gas measurements is the downfall of Volkswagen in several countries. How LTO reports, the group used control software for years to manipulate the emissions values of its diesel engines, especially for the US market. An estimated 11 million vehicles are affected worldwide. Customers and German registration authorities were deceived about the actual pollutant emissions, which could be viewed as fraud according to Section 263 of the Criminal Code.
The investigations in Germany are now focusing primarily on possible fraudulent actions against buyers. Although Volkswagen has emphasized its willingness to fully clarify the matter, it is still investigating who in the company is responsible for the manipulations mentioned, including the board members. In the USA, the company itself could face heavy fines and the appointment of a compliance monitor, which illustrates the extent of the further legal consequences.