Audi CEO is held in emissions case

German authorities on Monday detained the chief executive of Volkswagen’s Audi division, Rupert Stadler, as part of an investigation into the manipulation of emissions controls.

The move is an extension of the emissions scandal that has rocked Volkswagen since 2015 and led to billions of dollars in fines, the arrests of executives and the indictment in the United States of VW’s former CEO.

Stadler’s detention follows a search last week of his private residence, ordered by Munich prosecutors investigating him on suspicion of fraud and indirect improprieties with documents.

“Audi CEO Rupert Stadler was provisionally arrested this morning,” the company said in a statement. It said shortly afterward that at prosecutors’ request, a judge had ordered him kept in custody pending possible charges. The company said it couldn’t comment further because of the ongoing investigation.

A total of 20 people are under suspicion in the Audi investigation, which focuses on cars sold in Europe that were believed to be equipped with software that turned emissions controls on during testing and off again during regular driving to enhance road performance.

Volkswagen first admitted in 2015 to using software to cheat on U.S. emissions tests. That cheating has cost it $20 billion in fines and civil settlements.

Volkswagen has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the United States, and nine managers, including former CEO Martin Winterkorn, were charged in the U.S. Two are serving prison terms; Winterkorn and the others remained in Germany and are unlikely to be extradited.