The prosecutors have announced that they were searching for documents and data-storage devices that could help the authorities’ investigation into the emissions-cheating scandal.
“Today, in connection with the so-called emissions scandal, raids were carried out at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg and other locations,” the prosecutors said in a statement to the media. “The raids aimed to secure documents and data carriers that, in view of possible offences, can provide information about the exact conduct of company employees and their identities in the manipulation of exhaust emissions of diesel vehicles.”
Volkswagen AG, for its part, stated that it was committed to cooperating with the investigation and that it has already handed over a range of documents that it has called “comprehensive.”
“This was a couple of software engineers who put this in for whatever reason,” Horn said during Thursday’s testimony on Capitol Hill.
The economy minister and the vice-chancellor of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, visited the Wolfsburg offices the same day to address staff, stressing that VW employees must not suffer from the decisions made by several managers.
The move by German prosecutors follows considerable pressure from the government to identify those responsible. Volkswagen is currently carrying out its own internal investigation, but even though it has reportedly suspended ten managers and three top engineering executives, it has neither named nor pointed a finger at specific individuals.
The German prosecutors have not indicated at this time if they were investigating specific managers or engineers who were reportedly suspended by Volkswagen more than a week ago.