Volkswagen Korea chief questioned

By Kim Se-jeong

Johannes Thammer

Prosecutors questioned the chief of Audi Volkswagen Korea, Thursday, over its emissions scandal involving more than 200,000 diesel vehicles sold in Korea.

Arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul, Johannes Thammer said, “I am sorry for the situation. We will do everything, and faithfully cooperate with the prosecutor.”

Asked if he had anything to say to customers, he answered, “We’ll discuss everything with the prosecutors.”

He was the highest-ranking executive at the Korean branch of the German carmaker to be interrogated since the investigation began in January, over his alleged involvement in fabrication of reports on fuel efficiency, noise level and emissions to obtain approval from the local authorities.

If found guilty, Thammer faces up to five years in prison or 30 million won in fines.

The prosecution questioned him over whether he was aware of or ordered replacement of the software in vehicles that had initially failed to pass the authorities’ emissions test in 2014. It also sought whether the German headquarters were involved in the irregularities.

Earlier in July, the prosecution arrested an executive, surnamed Yoon, for the same allegation, and is known to have obtained evidence against Thammer. He has denied the allegations against himself.

Prosecutors said they would decide whether to seek an arrest warrant for Thammer based on the questioning and other evidence.

The prosecution’s investigation into Volkswagen began in January after the Ministry of Environment found the German carmaker had passed the emissions test by faking the results. The ministry imposed 14.1 billion won in fines for that, and later filed a criminal complaint against the company after it kept failing to comply with authorities in drafting a recall plan.

Last week, the ministry imposed the second round of penalties for cheating the emissions and noise level tests ― 17.8 billion won in fines, suspension of sales and revocation of certificates for 80 vehicle models sold in Korea.

Since the scandal broke last November, the authorities have canceled certification of 209,000 vehicles, including those of Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley. The number accounts for 68 percent of around 300,000 cars that have been sold here since 2007. The government has formed a special investigation committee for the scandal.

Following the ministry’s sales ban last week, the company said it would consider possible legal countermeasures, including an injunction against further sales of the vehicles and administrative suits to cancel the sales ban. But it has not come up with any measures yet.