Ex Volkswagen CEO accuses judge of bias in Dieselgate case

Former Volkswagen Group chief executive Martin Winterkorn has accused the judge leading a criminal trial into the 77-year-old's alleged role in the diesel emissions scandal of bias, dpa learnt on Monday.

In a letter to the Braunschweig Regional Court in central Germany seen by dpa, Winterkorn's defence lawyers say the former executive has lost faith in the impartiality of the presiding judge in his case.

Winterkorn's trial - on charges of commercial fraud, market manipulation and making false statements in connection with the so-called Dieselgate scandal - originally began in September, but was delayed on medical grounds after he suffered an accident.

Last week, the court rescheduled the trial for February 2025, before a court-ordered assessment of Winterkorn's health could take place.

In response, Winterkorn's lawyers have filed a motion to challenge the judge for fear of bias.

The allegations 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 in the scheme. His trial has been repeatedly delayed by health concerns.