Wolfgang Hatz (centre) in court in September 2020
The former head of aggregate development at Audi could bring about a turnaround in the process.
(Photo: dpa)
It is 9.30 a.m. when Wolfgang Hatz makes a U-turn in the criminal proceedings for the manipulation of diesel engines at Audi. “I hereby fully admit the accusations made against me,” the former head of Audi engine development has his defense attorney explain to the court. The “formative elements of the software” were known to Hatz, says attorney Gerson Trüg.
This also applies to the fact that the manipulations in Audi engine development were not reported to the authorities. “I did not behave according to my responsibility,” Hatz explains, and he regrets this.
Hatz’s confession is a spectacular development in the two-and-a-half-year-long trial of exhaust gas manipulation before the Munich district court. The question is who in technical development and on the Audi board knew about the manipulated diesel engines, which ultimately cost the VW Group more than 30 billion euros in fines and damages.
So far, Hatz had denied the allegations. In addition to Hatz, engine developer Giovanni Pamio and ex-Audi boss Rupert Stadler also have to answer in the dock.
According to the indictment, Hatz and Pamio manipulated engines in such a way that they complied with the legal emission values on the test bench, but not on the road. Stadler, in turn, is said to have failed to stop the sale of the affected cars after the scandal became known. Like Hatz, Stadler has always denied the allegations.
The court insists on confessions
After more than 160 days of negotiations, the presiding judge Stefan Weickert recently made the trio an offer: in the event of confessions, suspended sentences would be an option.
Pamio had then already made a confession and stated that he knew that the defeat devices in the diesel engines were not in compliance with the law. The court has now promised Pamio and Hatz suspended sentences for their statements. Pamio should also pay a monetary requirement of 50,000 euros, Hatz 400,000 euros.
While the public prosecutor’s office signaled that they agree with Pamio’s punishment, they reject a suspended sentence for Hatz. “Mr Hatz made a significant contribution in a very high position. I believe that no suspended sentence is sufficient,” said the chief prosecutor.
There was also no agreement with ex-Audi boss Rupert Stadler in the morning. Due to his high level of responsibility, the public prosecutor’s office demands at least a seven-figure fine. Another legal hearing is scheduled for the afternoon.
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