First Swiss criminal complaint filed against Volkswagen

The owner of a Volkwagen diesel car has filed a criminal complaint in Geneva against the German car group and individuals for fraud and damage to the environment. This is the first private complaint in Switzerland over the rigging of test emissions.  Lawyers Jacques Roulet and Guillaume Etiers told the Swiss News Agency on Thursday that the Geneva-based owner of a VW diesel car bought in 2014 had filed a private complaint with the Geneva prosecutor’s office.  The owner accuses Volkswagen and persons concerned of fraud, fraudulently obtaining the necessary verification of the vehicle, unfair competition, selling a vehicle that was not an approved model and environmental damage harmful to humans. The complaint urges the authorities to investigate whether exhaust emissions have resulted in deaths or physical injuries.  The lawyers encourage other owners affected by the Volkswagen emission scandal to file identical criminal complaints and thus participate in a joint ...