Volkswagen exec pleads guilty in US emissions cheating case
DETROIT: Volkswagen AG executive Oliver Schmidt pleaded guilty in the US District Court in Detroit in connection with a massive diesel emissions scandal that has cost the German automaker as much as US$25 billion.
Under a plea agreement, Schmidt will face up to seven years in prison and a fine of between US$40,000 and US$400,000 after admitting to conspiring to mislead US regulators and violating clean air laws.
Schmidt will be sentenced on Dec 6.
In March, Volkswagen pleaded guilty to three felony counts under a plea agreement to resolve US charges that it installed secret software in vehicles in order to elude emissions tests.
US prosecutors have charged eight current and former Volkswagen executives so far.
“Schmidt participated in a fraudulent VW scam that prioritized corporate sales at the expense of the honesty of emissions tests and trust of the American purchasers,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jean Williams.
“Schmidt, along with each and every official involved in this emissions scandal, will be held fully accountable for their actions by the Department of Justice as this investigation continues.”
Earlier this year, Schmidt was charged with 11 felony counts and federal prosecutors said he could have faced a maximum of up to 169 years in prison. — Reuters