Taking the Stand: The "Scapegoated" Defendants in the VW Emissions Scandal Speak Out
In the VW exhaust controversy, those charged are viewing themselves as the wronged party
As the last chapter unfolds in the VW diesel scandal trial, the accused executives and engineers are having their final say. Facing potential incarceration, they've made it clear they don't see eye-to-eye with the prosecution and have felt the weight of this investigation hanging over them for nearly a decade. With impassioned statements, they've described the seemingly endless trial at the Braunschweig Regional Court as draining and exhausting.
From the prosecution's viewpoint, these four ex-managers and engineers of the Wolfsburg automaker are anything but innocent. The trial, underway since September 2021, has seen the prosecution calling for prison sentences ranging from three to four years for three of the four defendants. In stark contrast, the defense has argued for a total of three acquittals and one warning. A verdict in this trial could come as early as next Monday.
Ten Years Later, the Sting of Sentencing Remains
Facing potential imprisonment a decade after the scandal broke, these men have expressed shock at the proposed sentences. They also voiced their irritation and disbelief at the pleas for the other defendants, labeling them "irritating and shocking." Throughout the trial, which has been marked by the he-said-she-said nature of determining who knew what and when, engineers who proposed the defeat device claim they raised concerns and warned of the consequences. Their superiors counter that they discussed problems but never illegal action.
The Missing Piece: Former CEO Winterkorn
Critics have pointed to the absence of a key figure, former CEO Martin Winterkorn, from the current trial as a significant omission that calls into question the fairness of the proceedings. With Winterkorn absent due to health reasons, the case against him has been separated out. The defendants feel that they've been singled out while other responsible parties face no trial at this stage.
Economy Decade After Scandal: Prosecutors Demand Prison Sentences for Ex-VW Managers in Diesel Scandal
[1] ntv.de[2] lar/dpa[3] Reuters[4] Financial Times
- Braunschweig
- Justice
- Trials
- Volkswagen
- Automotive Industry
- Affairs and Scandals
Additional Insights:
- The defendants argue that they've been made scapegoats, being singled out while internal warnings were ignored and higher-level executives have evaded trial so far.
- Critics have noted that a key figure, former CEO Martin Winterkorn, is missing from the trial, which is seen as a major omission that weakens the fairness of the proceedings.
- The defense argues that allegations against their clients are unsubstantiated, with some prosecutor arguments being labeled as cynical or nonsensical.
- The absent former CEO Martin Winterkorn, who is a key figure in the VW emissions scandal, has been seen as a significant omission in the trial, raising questions about the fairness of the proceedings, as the accused executives claim they have been made scapegoats while internal warnings were ignored and higher-level executives have yet to face trial.
- In the evolving saga of the VW diesel scandal, critics have pointed out the stark discrepancy in thesentencing recommendations between the prosecution and defense, with the prosecution calling for years in prison for several ex-managers and engineers, while the defense argues for acquittals and warnings, indicating a contentious and complex case that continues to challenge the balance of justice in the automotive industry and broader business, politics, finance, and general-news spheres.
