Volkswagen executive Oliver Schmidt, convicted in the United States last week for his role in the German automaker’s emissions scandal, can ask to serve his prison sentence in Germany, German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported, pointing out sources close to Schmidt.
The paper stated such a request would have to be authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice along with a German court.
Schmidt was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in prison and fined $400,000, the maximum possible under a plea deal the German national made with prosecutors in August after admitting to charges of conspiring to misguide U.S regulators and breach clean-air laws.
Schmidt read a written statement in court acknowledging the sentence.
Welt am Sonntag quoted Schmidt’s lawyer Alexander Saettele as telling that he was looking into a possible appeal however that no choice had been made yet.
The court decision “was not a surprise, but it was still disappointing to him that he was not able to get through to the judge,” Saettele informed the paper.
Saettele of Berlin-based lawfirm Danckert Huber Baerlein was not available for remark outside his company’s working hours.
David DuMouchel, a Detroit-based legal representative for Schmidt of lawfirm Butzel Long, refused to provide any information on the case.
“There are a number of matters that remain to be done therefore the matter is still active and for that reason I can not comment,” he stated in an e-mailed declaration.
Schmidt likewise still deals with possible disciplinary action at Volkswagen, consisting damages claims and termination of his agreement, according to a company spokesperson.
