Luxembourg Launches Criminal Proceedings Against “Unknown Persons” Involved In Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Fraud

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Authorities in the European country of Luxembourg have launched new criminal proceedings relating to the ongoing Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, following the initial findings of investigations based around the EA 189 engine made by Audi/Volkswagen.

The EA 189 engine was tested and certified by authorities in Luxembourg, and used in the majority of the cars sold in the US (and elsewhere) featuring illegal defeat devices (which allowed the company to game emissions tests).

Luxembourg’s infrastructure minister, François Bausch, commented on the decision: “We have decided that, as there is a large probability that a defeat device was used, to launch a lawsuit against unknown persons.”

Reuters provides more:

“Investigations across the world are still trying to identify all the individuals involved in the scandal. Bausch’s ministry described itself as ‘a victim of criminal action that led it to certify cars,’ adding it would not have done so had tests not been falsified. …

“Luxembourg is one of seven EU countries under scrutiny by the European Commission, which feels member states have not done enough to crack down on emissions test cheating.”

To reiterate that last point, Luxembourg launched the new criminal proceedings once the spotlight was put on the country (and others) for its apparent inability to spot Volkswagen’s use of defeat devices, and it’s testing fraud in general.

Unsurprisingly, spokespeople for VW and Audi declined to comment on the news when queried.

In related news, the German seafood distributor Deutsche See reportedly launched a lawsuit against VW on Sunday relating to the ongoing scandal — alleging that VW misrepresented a fleet of vehicles that is sold to the company as being “environmentally friendly.”

Here’s to hoping that the heads keep rolling…


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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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