PROSECUTORS TARGET BOSCH
‘Unknown individuals’ under investigation for aiding and abetting fraud
GERMAN prosecutors investigating whether carmaker Daimler manipulated emission tests on its diesel cars are looking at whether car components supplier Bosch was involved in the alleged fraud, it was confirmed yesterday.
“There is an investigation into aiding and abetting fraud,” said a spokesman for the Stuttgart prosecutor about Bosch, following a media report published on Thursday.
The new probe targets “unknown individuals” at the supplier, said the spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office.
The spokesman added that the Bosch investigation started a couple of weeks ago and was tied to the continuing probe of Daimler, the owner of Mercedes-Benz.
Bosch is a provider of engine management software to Daimler and prosecutors are investigating whether the carmaker made use of illegal software to cheat emissions tests.
Earlier this week, Stuttgart prosecutors searched Daimler’s offices and other premises in the course of investigations “against known and unknown employees at Daimler who are suspected of fraud and misleading advertising connected with manipulated emissions treatment of diesel passenger cars”.
This week, prosecutors said they were in touch with the authorities in the United States about the Daimler probe.
However, the Stuttgart prosecutors said yesterday they had not contacted their US counterparts about the potential involvement of Bosch. The investigation of Bosch comes in addition to a separate inquiry in which Stuttgart prosecutors are looking at what role Bosch may have had in helping engineers at Volkswagen (VW) manipulate diesel emissions.
Earlier this month, a US federal judge gave final approval for Bosch to pay US$327.5 million (RM1.4 billion) to American owners of VW diesel cars for its role in developing the engines and as part of a broader settlement to buy back the vehicles. Bosch admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.