A Stellantis manager was arrested earlier in the week as part of a U.S. inquiry into diesel emissions rigging and could be extradited to the United States.
Sergio Pasini was arrested on Monday in the northern Italian city of Ferrara. He was released after a hearing at the Court of Appeal in Bologna and ordered to attend a hearing in the city in 40 days. During this hearing, the court will rule on a request for Pasini to be extradited to the U.S.
Pasini was indicted in the U.S. earlier this year on charges including conspiring to rig diesel-powered vehicles to cheat on government emissions tests while working as a manager at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Read More: U.S. Justice Department Indicts Two Fiat Chrysler Managers In Diesel Emissions Probe
In a statement issued to Reuters, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. said it will continue to fully cooperate with authorities regarding diesel emissions issues. The U.S. Justice Department alleges that Pasini conspired to calibrate software in diesel vehicles that would allow them to pollute more than the legal limits while driving on the roads.
The car manufacturer has previously agreed to pay roughly $800 million to settle civil litigation brought by the Justice Department, customers, and state officials regarding the company’s diesel emissions. Despite this, FCA has previously denied that it intentionally tried to evade emissions requirements.
The U.S. Justice Department also indicted 55-year-old Gianluca Sabbioni of Sala Bologenese, Italy and 42-year-old Emanuele Palma of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, back in April when it indicted Pasini.
