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Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / DPA
The Hanover public prosecutor's office has expanded its investigation into the VW diesel scandal to include former top managers of the automotive supplier Continental.
Affected are ex-CEO Elmar Degenhart, CFO Wolfgang Schäfer, who was recalled on Wednesday, and a former board member of the Powertrain division, which has now been split off, said a spokesman for the investigative authority.
The allegations were of aiding and abetting fraud and breach of trust, as well as willful breach of duty of supervision.
Investigations were also underway against two employees below board level.
On Wednesday, documents and data were secured in a law firm commissioned by Continental.
The shares of the Dax group were the biggest loser in the Dax with a minus of more than four percent.
On Wednesday, Continental surprisingly replaced the long-time CFO Schäfer.
The changes "are related to the already known investigations by the Hanover public prosecutor's office into the use of illegal defeat devices in diesel engines and deficits in the ongoing investigation at Continental," it said.
The group is resolving the matter consistently and cooperating wholeheartedly with the Hanover public prosecutor.
Continental declined to comment on the statements of the public prosecutor's office.
Even ex-CEO Degenhart and ex-CFO Schäfer would not comment on ongoing investigations, said a company spokesman.
Public prosecutor searches offices and private homes
In connection with the diesel emissions scandal at Volkswagen, the prosecutors had long searched offices at Continental locations and seized extensive material. "As part of the evaluation of the previously confiscated documents, we repeatedly come across clues and new findings," said the spokesman for the public prosecutor. This led to renewed searches. The result of the operation is currently being compiled. Investigators visited Continental's compliance department in Frankfurt last week. A private apartment was also searched. It is not about Schäfer's apartment, said the spokesman for the authorities.
The previous investigations concerned whether employees were guilty of aiding and abetting fraud and indirect false certification in the years 2006 to 2015.
The software used in a 1.6 liter diesel engine developed by VW for sale in Europe came from Continental.
The supplier argues that such motor controls are programmed by the customer to their respective needs and that he himself was not involved in the manipulation.
hej / Reuters
