The fraud trial against Martin Winterkorn, planned from the end of February, could be postponed due to health problems of the former Volkswagen CEO. The Regional Court of Braunschweig declared on Friday (January 8th 2020) on request that the competent chamber was able to negotiate of the now 73 – year old defendant had expert advice. The public procedure (Ref .: 6 KLs 23 / 19), at Winterkorn’s role in the diesel emissions affair is to be investigated, could only start with a delay. However, the court did not comment on specific details and deadlines.

From Winterkorn’s environment it was called the possibility there is definitely a shift. Ultimately, however, the Braunschweig Economic Criminal Chamber must decide on the further termination. Previously, the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Norddeutsche Rundfunk had about the development reported. According to the previous planning, the long-prepared main hearing should take place on 25. February 2021, it should continue until at least spring 2023.

Costs for Volkswagen so far: 30 billion euros in October 2020 the district court had already created a first overview of dates, which could now, however, falter. Winterkorn is said to be sitting in a wheelchair by now. He is also reportedly facing an important operation that could further disrupt the courtroom’s timing. In the exhaust gas fraud process, four other executives are charged with allegations of commercial and gang fraud. The fraud has cost the group far more than today 30 Billions of euros in legal expenses.

Chronology of the emissions scandal (74 Pictures) Mid-September 2009: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accuses the Volkswagen Group of Diesel cars of the years of construction 2009 to 2015 to have equipped them with software that tricked the tests for US environmental regulations. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) came to similar findings. Both authorities send complaints to VW. (Pictured: Headquarters of the EPA in Washington DC)

(Image: EPA

) Winterkorn resigned shortly after the manipulations were exposed. He was “not aware of any wrongdoing,” he said at the time. Before an investigative committee of the Bundestag he also emphasized that he had not known anything about illegal deception beforehand. The Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office nevertheless charged him after a lengthy investigation. In the meantime, rumors about a possible termination of the proceedings had made the rounds because the prosecutors had to rework some points.

Market manipulation Winterkorn also has to prepare for a lawsuit due to alleged market manipulation. The dates for this were not known recently. Market manipulation proceedings against the current Volkswagen Group boss Herbert Diess as well as against the former CFO and current supervisory board chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch were discontinued against the payment of 9 million euros.

(mfz)