Retired Volkswagen Group boss, Martin Winterkon is the latest person from the VW Group management to be charged by American prosecutors for conspiring to defraud the US people by misleading regulators over the dieselgate scandal.
The charges against Winterkorn, who resigned from his role as the Volkswagen Group’s chief executive in September 2015, were made by a Detroit federal court in March, although the indictment was sealed until yesterday (May 3).
Winterkorn, 70, was also charged with wire fraud and violating the Clear Air Act, through Volkswagen’s use of an illegal device to cheat US emissions tests.
In a statement, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: “The indictment unsealed today alleged that Volkswagen’s scheme to cheat its legal requirements went all the way to the top of the company. These are serious allegations, and we will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.” Volkswagen did not immediately comment.
