Associated Foreign Press | A German court has convicted and handed prison sentences, some suspended, to four former Volkswagen managers over their part in the “dieselgate” emissions-cheating scandal.
The scandal has caused waves in the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests.
Former VW executive Heinz-Jakob Neusser received a suspended jail term of one year and three months from the court in the city of Braunschweig.
The former head of drive electronics, named only as Hanno J., was given a sentence of two years and seven months.
The heaviest sentence of four years and six months was given to the former head of diesel motor development, Jens H., while the fourth defendant was given a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months.
The defendants can appeal against the rulings.
The separate trial of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn remains suspended because of his ill health.
Volkswagen said in a statement that the “proceedings in the court in Braunschweig are against individuals” and that they had “no significant consequences for the cases before the civil courts that Volkswagen is involved in” related to the scandal.
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