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- Volkswagen apparently wanted to show clemency for former Chief Martin Winterkorn in the investigation of the exhaust gas scandal
- In return, however, the automaker wanted to accept a hefty fine.
- But the investigators did not agree.
One billion euros, that 's a lot of money. Who pays so much money, can also require a lot. That's what Volkswagen did at the prosecutor's office in Braunschweig, before the investigative authority in the emissions case imposed a few weeks ago a fine of over $ 20,000. 39, a billion euros to the car manufacturer. The car company wanted to realize that former CEO Martin Winterkorn is being treated by the charge first soft. Volkswagen has practically tried to protect Winterkorn. Most likely, the company wanted to protect itself in this way, faced with billions of additional claims. The bill did not work because the investigators did not play.
Two memoranda from the prosecutor's office in Braunschweig on April 19 and May 4, 2015 on several rounds of negotiations with business representatives show how VW had bargained before the fine. The automobile company only offered 310 and then 840 million euros. It was only after the investigators continued to pressurize, explained VW Chief Justice Manfred Döss, that the company was ready to pay a billion euros. Prosecutors had immediately given to the years of handling exhaust gases by VW a fine of the order of a billion.
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According to the prosecutor, VW did not want to go as low as possible. But also realize that the expected fine notice is attached to the person of the former Winterkorn leader. Such a decision against an enterprise presupposes that a specifically designated officer may violate his or her supervisory duties and thereby come to these violations, which are ultimately punished. In one of the notes of the investigators, it is said: VW said that it is badumed that it would act of winter cereals.
However, the prosecution ruled in favor of a department head and not Winterkorn. If the former CEO had been mentioned in the fine, it would have been like a signal. According to the motto: Everything was not so bad at Winterkorn, it had only acted negligently. Against the winter grain is, among other things, because of suspicion of fraud and other alleged crimes. Many car customers have been sold as dirty vehicles. Winterkorn says the charges against him are false
. A fine imposed on Winterkorn for acting negligently would have been of great help to Volkswagen according to the parties. Many shareholders claim to have been informed too late by the CEO of the time and his colleagues from the problems of escape
The evidence is not yet fully evaluated
Shareholders sue the Superior Regional Court OLG in Brunswick for nine billion euros in damages. Papers after the start of the business of the fireplace. The procedure at the Superior Regional Court starts in September, and Winterkorn will also be there. Anything that would make his role appear in a softer light would help VW in the defense of the claim for damages.
In the notes of the prosecutor's office, this is also the reason why this VW had been triggered. A "simple" negligence on the part of Winterkorn could not be applied at the moment. The evidence has not been fully evaluated. The suspicion of criminal offenses will continue to be examined. VW did not want to comment on the case on request.
By law, investigators could only certify Winterkorn's negligence and then charge him anyway. One does not exclude the other. Nevertheless, Volkswagen attorneys would have been very courteous to fine the former CEO. Winterkorn himself would certainly have nothing against it, so for now only negligence would have been discussed.
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