London (CNN Business) German prosecutors have charged former Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn with fraud over diesel emissions.

Prosecutors in Braunschweig announced Monday that Winterkorn was one of five people indicted in a case related to the automaker's diesel emissions-cheating scandal.

Winterkorn has been accused of a particularly serious fraud, according to a statement from prosecutors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The former CEO was also charged with embezzlement and violating competition law. He could be ordered to repay bonuses he received as a reward for sales.

Prosecutors allege that Winterkorn was aware that diesel emissions were being manipulated as early as 2014 but failed to inform authorities and customers. Volkswagen admitted the following year to cheating on clean air rules with software that made emissions look less toxic than they actually were.

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