Prosecutors Launch Full Investigation into Nissan's 'Emissions Manipulation Allegations'... Complainant Interview Scheduled Today

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution, investigating allegations of illegal manipulation of diesel vehicle emissions, has officially begun its investigation into Nissan by questioning the accuser.

According to the legal community on the 23rd, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Han Yoon-kyung) summoned Park Soon-jang, team leader of the Consumer Law Center at the Citizens' Coalition for Consumer Sovereignty (Consumer Sovereignty), for questioning as an accuser at 2 p.m. that day.

In May, Consumer Sovereignty filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requesting an investigation into Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche corporations and 12 representatives on charges of violating the Air Quality Preservation Act, fraud, and obstruction of official duties by deception.

The organization claimed that these three companies sold diesel vehicles with manipulated emission control devices, gaining illegal profits amounting to hundreds of billions to trillions of won, disregarding our systems and regulations and mocking consumers.

Regarding Nissan, Makoto Uchida, President and CEO of Nissan, Nissan Japan Corporation, Heo Sang-jung, President of Nissan Korea, and Nissan Korea Corporation?two individuals and two corporations?were reported.

Nissan is known to be generally cooperating with the prosecution's investigation.

The prosecution is also investigating Mercedes-Benz. On May 27-28 and June 12, they conducted raids on the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz Korea and other locations.

However, the investigation is reportedly slow due to the long-term overseas business trip of Dimitris Silarakis, President of Mercedes-Benz Korea.

The Porsche investigation has been temporarily suspended. On the 16th, the prosecution suspended the indictment of Herbert Diess, President of Porsche AG, the corporation, Christian Neater, President of Porsche Korea, and the corporation for a limited time, citing reasons such as evidence being located abroad.

The prosecution has requested international criminal judicial cooperation from Germany and is awaiting a response. They plan to resume the investigation once the necessary materials arrive.

A suspension of indictment is a measure to halt an investigation when it cannot be concluded due to reasons such as the suspect's unknown whereabouts, and the investigation is paused until such reasons are resolved.

In early May, the Ministry of Environment reported illegal manipulation of emissions in 14 diesel vehicle models totaling 40,381 units sold domestically by Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Porsche from 2012 to 2018, and filed complaints with the prosecution along with certification cancellations, recall orders, and fines.

Mercedes-Benz and others were found to have manipulated emissions by using illegal programs that reduced the amount of urea solution used in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for nitrogen oxides or stopped the operation of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device in diesel models.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.