Because of the diesel scandal, Continental’s ex-manager has been under investigation for years. Some charges against him were dropped. However, the investigation continues on one point.
The Hanover public prosecutor’s office has dropped some of the allegations made in its investigation into the possible involvement of former top Continental managers in the VW emissions scandal. A spokesman for the investigative authority of the German Press Agency said the investigation was only being carried out on suspicion of infidelity. There will no longer be any investigation into possible aiding and abetting fraud or a possible breach of supervisory duty. “Wirtschaftswoche” had previously reported.
With regard to the accusation of aiding and abetting fraud, it was ultimately not proven that the managers concerned had participated, said the spokesman. The investigation into possible breach of duty was discontinued because, in the public prosecutor’s opinion, the accusation was not so serious that it needed to be pursued further. Continental did not want to comment on the issue when asked, citing the ongoing proceedings.
According to earlier information from the public prosecutor’s office, the suspicion of infidelity, which is still in the air, is that the accused may have “deliberately conducted their own investigation inadequately” and “as a result, claims for damages may not have been asserted.”
Investigations against 58 accused
According to previous information, former Conti CEO Elmar Degenhart is among the accused. In total, the authority is still investigating 58 suspects in connection with the allegations against Continental. For three lower-level employees, the proceedings have now been discontinued against payment of a fine, said the spokesman. All three confessed. The authority spokesman said it is not yet possible to estimate when the investigation will be completed as a whole.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for years, is about the supplier’s possible involvement in the emissions scandal at VW. The affair surrounding the manipulation of diesel emissions values using deceptive software was exposed in September 2015, but it goes back a few years. Since then, the question has been raised as to whether Volkswagen’s suppliers could also have known about the intention of diesel fraud.
Source: Stern
