Berlin - Porsche's ex-finance chief has rejected fraud
charges arising from arranging credit to help the German sports car maker's
doomed attempt to take over Volkswagen AG in 2009.
News agency dapd reported that Holger Haerter told the
Stuttgart state court as the trial opened on Wednesday that he was
"stunned" by the accusation.
The charges centre on the battle in which Porsche built up a
51% stake in much larger Volkswagen - piling up debt just as the economy
entered a deep recession.
The takeover attempt eventually collapsed.
Prosecutors allege Haerter and two co-defendants provided
inaccurate information in negotiations with banks regarding financing for a
€10bn ($12.6bn) credit line.
Haerter said he had always taken care to ensure his
statements were accurate.
He said: "Deceiving business partners is not my
way."
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