Ex-Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn faces trial over rigged software for emissions tests [Video]

FRANKFURT, Germany –

Former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn faced a trial Tuesday on charges of fraud and market manipulation in connection with the corporate scandal over Volkswagen’s use of rigged software that let millions of cars cheat on emissions tests and emit high levels of harmful pollutants.

Prosecutors say Winterkorn knew about the illegal software well before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its discovery of the violation in September 2015.

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He has said he learned about the practice only days earlier and has testified as a witness during civil proceedings that the allegations against him “are not correct.”

Winterkorn’s attorney, Felix Doerr, said ahead of court proceedings in Braunschweig on Tuesday that “our client definitively rejects the accusations brought against him.” He said that Winterkorn’s position as CEO was not justification to make him responsible for the scandal in all …