The Braunschweig Regional Court has taken a former manager associated with the Volkswagendiesel emissions scandal into custody on 6 November 2026. The man had arrived late for the scheduled hearing. The defence had cited health reasons; the criminal chamber found, after its own assessment, that these were not a sufficient excuse and ordered detention to ensure the trial there.
The case in Braunschweig concerns allegations that software to manipulate emissions values was developed and used between 2006 and 2015. The case is one of several criminal investigations into the diesel emissions scandal involving Volkswagen. Some former employees have already been convicted in earlier proceedings; other cases are ongoing or have been suspended for health reasons. The detention decision made now relates solely to procedural discipline in the ongoing trial and does not constitute a prior judgment on the merits.
Under German criminal procedure, a court may order a defendant to be brought before it or remand them in custody if their absence or late arrival is not adequately excused and the measure appears necessary to ensure the proceedings can continue. For remand in custody to continue, additional grounds such as risk of absconding or tampering with evidence must be assessed. The criminal chamber announced that it would promptly clarify the legal requirements for reviewing the continued detention.
The main hearing is due to continue as scheduled. The next hearings are set to include further applications to introduce evidence and witness testimony on technical processes and responsibility. Public Prosecutor’s Office and the defence have stressed in previous statements that reliable scheduling is essential both to establishing the truth and to protecting the procedural rights of those involved. The court noted that delays can significantly complicate lengthy financial crime trials and emphasised the defendants’ duty to help ensure their proper participation in the hearing.
The The diesel emissions scandal has occupied the justice system and politicians for years and has led to numerous civil disputes in addition to criminal proceedings. However, the criminal case here in Lower Saxony focuses on the criminal responsibility of individual accused persons. Braunschweig Regional Court says it will provide further information after the next hearing days; any new applications by the defence to excuse the defendant’s absence are to be considered within the prescribed time limit.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).