VW emissions case: Ex-CEO faces trial nine years after Dieselgate

Charges against the former CEO include fraud, market manipulation and unlawful false testimony before a parliamentary committee.

Martin Winterkorn, former chief executive officer of Volkswagen, reportedly appeared in court last week to face trial over fraud charges over the 'Dieselgate' scandal, which took place nine years ago.

Winterkorn was removed from his position in September 2015 after it emerged that millions of Volkswagen cars were found to have manipulated their emission tests to pass environmental standards. Winterkorn appeared in court last Tuesday, marking the start of his criminal trial. The charges against the former CEO include fraud, market manipulation and unlawful false testimony before a parliamentary committee.

Winterkorn's lawyers though denied the charges against him, stating, "Our client did not defraud or harm anyone, he did not deliberately leave the capital market in the dark so that investors would be harmed, and he told the investigating committee the truth."

The former CEO was in court in February this year, appearing as a witness in an investor lawsuit. He had, even then, denied any involvement in decisions to install the 'cheat devices' to pass the emission tests.

The trial of the ex-CEO comes at a time when Volkswagen is looking to shut down its German manufacturing facilities.

Source: Reuters