April 26, 2024

• 

[THE INVESTOR] Three officials of the Korean unit of Porsche have been indicted for doctoring documents required for the local government’s certification in relation to gas emissions, prosecutors said on April 23.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said the accused, one surnamed Kim and two others, have been charged without physical detention on the counts of document falsification, obstruction of business and violation of laws regarding environment preservation and customs.

They are accused of doctoring the results of gas emission tests on certain Porsche models to get government approval between 2014 and 2015, and selling some 2,000 units of the vehicles in Korea until February last year.

Prosecutors have also indicted six former and incumbent officials of BMW Korea on similar charges. They also have falsified test results since 2011 and sold 29,000 units in the market.

The Ministry of Environment revealed in its own inquiry last year that the German carmakers had breached regulations. The ministry imposed fines on them and filed for a complaint with the prosecution seeking an investigation.

A separate prosecution investigation is under way against the local unit of Mercedes-Benz over similar allegations.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)