According to media reports, Volkswagen was faced with investigations into suspected human rights violations in Brazil several years ago. As NDR, SWR and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported on Sunday, the allegations relate to the period from 1974 to 1986, when the car manufacturer operated a farm on the edge of the Amazon basin under the name “Companhia Vale do Rio Cristalino”.
“Please understand that we will not comment further due to a possible legal process in Brazil,” said VW on request. “However, we can assure you that we take the possible incidents on the Fazenda Rio Cristalino, to which the investigation of the Brazilian investigative authorities refer, very seriously.”
The crimes are said to have been committed there on temporary workers who were used for the clearing work. The VW board in Wolfsburg probably knew about the events, it said in the media reports. The company was informed about the procedure on May 19 and was summoned to a hearing on June 14 in Brasilia.
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