Ex-Audi Boss Stadler Charged in Diesel Emissions Investigation

Dieselgate isn’t over for former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler. The ex-exec has been charged by German officials for his role in the emissions scandal.

The affair that came to light back in 2015, with Volkswagen admitting to using illegal engine control software, has so far cost the company $33.5 billion. Multiple Volkswagen executives have been arrested as part of the scandal.

Stadler was originally arrested in June of last year. Part of the investigation into his role in the affair. His contract was terminated shortly thereafter by Volkswagen.

Now, prosecutors in Munich have charged Stadler and three other defendants with fraud, false certification, and criminal advertising practices, Reuters reports. Stadler has denied any wrongdoing, his lawyer said.

“Defendant Stadler is accused of having been aware of the manipulations since the end of September 2015 at the latest, but he did not prevent the sale of affected Audi and VW vehicles thereafter,” the prosecutor said in a statement.

Reuters cites people familiar with the proceedings as saying former Audi and Porsche manager Wolfgang Hatz was one of the other three charged. He was the former head of powertrain development at Audi and R&D at Porsche.

The prosecutors said that there are investigations ongoing against 23 other suspects in the matter.

[source: Reuters]

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