Frankfurt-based lawyer Kersten von Schenck said by email on Thursday that the former CEO would not be commenting until he had been granted access to files held by Braunschweig prosecutors. Volkswagen may take legal action against former chairman Ferdinand Piech following allegations that he told senior executives about the diesel emissions cheating device six months before it was exposed . Volkswagen informed then - CEO Michael Winterkorn , and other members of the steering committee of the supervisory board , about the cheating devices in March 2015 , according to reports by Germany 's Bild am Tag newspaper . Piech left the firm the following month . Winterkorn is also under investigation for his role in the scandal .
Volkswagen may take legal action against former chairman Ferdinand Piech following allegations that he told senior executives about the diesel emissions cheating device six months before it was exposed . Volkswagen informed then - CEO Michael Winterkorn , and other members of the steering committee of the supervisory board , about the cheating devices in March 2015 , according to reports by Germany 's Bild am Tag newspaper . Piech left the firm the following month . Winterkorn is also under investigation for his role in the scandal .