Emissions: Audi head a suspect

AUDI chief executive Rupert Stadler has been named as another suspect in the widening investigation into alleged emissions manipulation at the Volkswagen subsidiary, public prosecutors in Munich, Germany said. Stadler’s private residence was searched yesterday to procure evidence, along with the home of another new suspect, an Audi executive board member. Both are accused of fraud and “indirect false statement or omission”, according to the prosecutors. Prosecutors allege that Audi sold at least 210 000 diesel-engine cars fitted with cheat software in the US and Europe from 2009 onwards, and they have been investigating allegations of fraud and illegal product promotion for the past year. Lawyers raided two Audi sites at the start of February. – dpa