As Volkswagen Exec Heads to the Slammer, an Engineer Awaits His Fate
The first person sentenced in the sprawling Volkswagen emissions scandal is headed to jail in South Korea, but the man who helped design the defeat smog-spewing engines will have to wait for his punishment.
Reuters reports an executive of VW’s South Korean division was handed a sentence of one year, six months today for his side-role in the diesel deception. Meanwhile, a German engineer who was the first employee charged in the scandal will cool his heels a little while longer.
It seems he’s just too useful.
The Korean exec, known only by his surname Yun, fabricated emissions documents and noise-level tests to gain the certification needed to import the vehicles. Besides document fabrication and obstruction of work, authorities charged Yun with violating environmental rules. South Korea decertified 80 VW Group models in August.
“Volkswagen has by itself undermined its credibility as a global brand as a result of this crime which has caused grave social and economic damages,” Seoul Central District Court said in a statement.
Investigations continue into that country’s role in the scandal. Already, VW’s Korean division has seen a $31.87 million fine for false advertising claims.
In California, the long-time engineer who helped design the ill-fated diesel motors has seen his sentencing delayed. James R. Liang, who joined the company in 1983 and was part of the team that crafted the emissions-compromised TDI engines, won’t learn his fate on February 1.
According to Reuters, Liang’s knowledge has proved very useful to U.S. investigators.
U.S. District Judge Sean Cox has delayed the sentencing to May 3, “to allow more time for defendant’s cooperation in the investigation.” In a court filing, Cox claimed Liang was “cooperating with the government in the investigation and the potential prosecution of others.”
Liang left Germany to work for the automaker’s U.S. division in 2008, after helping develop a crop of new “clean diesel” engines designed to spur American sales.
[Image: SalFalco/ Flickr ( CC BY-NC 2.0)]
More by Steph Willems
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- Kwik_Shift_Pro4X Neither. They're basically the same vehicle.
- Analoggrotto 1. Kia Sportage2. Hyundai TucsonRugged SUVs which cater to the needs of the affluent middle class suburbanite which are second only to themselves, these are shining applications of Hyundai Kia Genesis commitment to automotive excellence. Evolving from the fabled Hyundai Excel of the 90s, a pioneering vehicle which rivaled then upstart Lexus in quality, comfort and features long before Hyundai became a towering king of analytics and funding legions of internet keyboard warriors.
- FreedMike Comparison: RAV4 versus CR-V. Who wins? Mazda CX-5 Turbo.(Sorry, the Toyota and Honda are both deadly dull to drive.)
- Ajla 1. RAV4 Hybrid2. CRV Hybrid 3. RAV4 2.54. RAV4 Prime5. CRV 1.5T
- MaintenanceCosts If only it had a hatch. The Model S is so much more practical, has similar performance in non-Plaid form, and is $20k more - and the $20k premium seems almost worth it just for the hatch.
Comments
Join the conversation
Did anyone from General Motors management serve any jail time for the deaths caused by those faulty ignition switches? Just wondering...
Germany will never let VW go belly up.