Cannabis in the blood China expels high-ranking VW manager
October 21, 2024, 9:39 p.m. Listen to article
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China takes strict action against the possession and consumption of drugs – even if the latter took place abroad. According to a report, a top Volkswagen manager is now being expelled from the country for this reason. He is said to have previously consumed cannabis in Thailand.
China has expelled a high-ranking Volkswagen manager from the country, according to a media report. Jochen Sengpiehl had to leave China, the “Bild” newspaper reported. Accordingly, he was convicted of a drug offense. Volkswagen has not yet confirmed the incident. According to the report, the incident is currently under internal investigation.
Sengpiehl is a marketing expert. He worked for Volkswagen from 2006 to 2009, and later also for Hyundai and Mercedes. In 2017 he moved to Volkswagen again to polish up the brand’s image after the diesel scandal. In 2022, the group sent him to China, the most important sales market for the group. This chapter now ends.
According to the report, Sengpiehl had consumed cannabis while in Thailand. After his return, he came across a drug check in Beijing, writes “Bild”. Drug consumption was proven. The manager was interrogated for hours and was then imprisoned for more than ten days. This is not unusual: China takes rigorous action against drugs and their consumption, even if the latter took place abroad but can still be detected through tests. Even imprisonment for several days without a verdict is then possible.
After efforts by Volkswagen Group China and the German Embassy in Beijing, Sengpiehl was reportedly released from prison. However, he had to leave the country immediately. He is now back in Germany.
