The trial of former Volkswagen Group chief executive Martin Winterkorn over his alleged role in the diesel emissions scandal has again been delayed on medical grounds.
The Braunschweig Regional court in north-central Germany on Thursday said trial dates scheduled to begin on February 4 have been postponed for “at least the next few months” due to Winterkorn’s ill health.
The 77-year-old’s trial – on charges of commercial fraud, market manipulation and making false statements in connection with the diesel emissions scandal – originally began in September, but was delayed on medical grounds after he suffered an accident.
The allegations against Winterkorn date back to the 2015 discovery by US regulators that some Volkswagen diesel engines had been intentionally programmed to fake the results of emissions testing.
Once Germany’s highest-paid business executive, Winterkorn stepped down in the wake of the scandal but denied any personal culpability.
His trial has been repeatedly delayed by health concerns.
The court has also separately rejected a motion filed by Winterkorn’s lawyers to challenge the presiding judge in the case over alleged bias.
In a letter to the court seen by dpa in December, Winterkorn’s defence lawyers said the former executive had lost faith in the impartiality of the judge.
The court stated on Thursday that the defence’s motion was unfounded.
