Volkswagen executive given seven years in jail for US emissions scandal

A US-based Volkswagen AG executive who oversaw emissions issues was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined US$400,000 by a judge on Wednesday for his role in a diesel emissions scandal that has cost the German carmaker as much as US$30 billion.

The prison sentence and fine for the executive, Oliver Schmidt, were the maximum possible under a plea deal in August the German national made with prosecutors after admitting to charges of conspiring to mislead US regulators and violate clean-air laws.

“It is my opinion that you are a key conspirator in this scheme to defraud the United States,” US District Judge Sean Cox of Detroit told Schmidt in court. “You saw this as your opportunity to shine … and climb the corporate ladder at VW.”

Schmidt read a written statement in court acknowledging his guilt and broke down when discussing his family’s sacrifices on his behalf since his arrest in January.

“I made bad decisions and for that I am sorry,” he said.