Diesel affair - Before the trial commencement: Winterkorn back in clinic
Right before the start of the trial against former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in the Diesel affair case, the health condition of the 77-year-old ex-top manager has worsened again. Winterkorn had to undergo another knee surgery due to a medical emergency, according to sources close to him. The operation went well, but Winterkorn is physically very weak. He is currently being treated in a rehabilitation clinic. Previously, "Spiegel" had reported this.
The trial against the former VW boss is scheduled to begin at the Braunschweig District Court on September 3, 2023. This is still the case, according to a court spokesperson. "September 3 is still the date on which the main hearing is scheduled to begin."
The start of the proceedings has been delayed due to Winterkorn's health condition for years. In 2021, at the start of the first major Braunschweig trial against former VW managers and engineers, Winterkorn's case was separated from the proceedings due to health reasons. In February 2024, it was announced through the court that a new medical assessment of Winterkorn's fitness to stand trial would be conducted from September 2024. The court then set over 80 dates.
- Despite the postponement due to Martin Winterkorn's health issues, the criminal trial related to the Dieselgate scandal in Lower Saxony's Braunschweig District Court is set to commence on September 3, 2023, as confirmed by the court spokesperson.
- The German Press Agency reported that Wolfsburg-based automobile giant VW's former CEO, Winterkorn, is currently receiving treatment in a rehabilitation clinic after undergoing another knee surgery.
- The health status of the 77-year-old ex-top manager has been a significant factor in the delay of the criminal trial, as Winterkorn has been physically weak following the surgery.
- The automobile industry and the public have been closely following the legal process beginning with the indictment of Martin Winterkorn, given his high-profile role during the Dieselgate scandal.
- The Justice system has taken the necessary steps to ensure a fair trial for Martin Winterkorn, including conducting a new medical evaluation of his fitness to stand trial in September 2024, as announced by the court in February 2024.
- The criminal trial facing former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn is a significant event for the German press and the public, as it directly impacts the reputation of VW, a prominent figure in the German and global automobile industry.
