WSJ = A Volkswagen AG executive was arrested and charged as part of a U.S. investigation into the German auto giant’s emissions-cheating scandal, with a federal complaint detailing how the company’s top management conspired to hide the cheating from regulators.
Oliver Schmidt, who was once in charge of ensuring that Volkswagen vehicles complied with U.S. emissions, was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents on Saturday at Miami International Airport as he prepared to fly home to Germany. He is suspected of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and U.S. consumers to sell Volkswagen diesel vehicles.
In one of the most dramatic scenes to unfold since Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 to installing illegal software on millions of its vehicles to cheat emissions test, the portly executive stood forlorn-looking before a U.S. magistrate in Florida on Monday in handcuffs, shackles and a tan jumpsuit.
He was denied bail pending a Thursday court appearance for fear he could flee to Germany.
“And if he goes back, he’s never coming back,” Benjamin Singer, a Justice Department lawyer, told the court. Mr. Singer said an attorney for Mr. Schmidt had alerted government lawyers that the executive would be in Florida for vacation.
Oliver Schmidt, who was once in charge of ensuring that Volkswagen vehicles complied with U.S. emissions, was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents on Saturday at Miami International Airport as he prepared to fly home to Germany. He is suspected of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and U.S. consumers to sell Volkswagen diesel vehicles.
In one of the most dramatic scenes to unfold since Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 to installing illegal software on millions of its vehicles to cheat emissions test, the portly executive stood forlorn-looking before a U.S. magistrate in Florida on Monday in handcuffs, shackles and a tan jumpsuit.
He was denied bail pending a Thursday court appearance for fear he could flee to Germany.
“And if he goes back, he’s never coming back,” Benjamin Singer, a Justice Department lawyer, told the court. Mr. Singer said an attorney for Mr. Schmidt had alerted government lawyers that the executive would be in Florida for vacation.