According to a person familiar with the matter, the firm recommended the suspension of anyone who could have been involved, from high-level decision makers to low-level technicians. The move is intended to prevent possible perpetrators from compromising the investigation, though many of those who have been suspended are likely to be found innocent of any wrongdoing and return to their jobs, the person said.

Executives suspended

After the scandal's disclosure, VW confirmed that several senior executives had been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of Jones Day’s investigation. These included Ulrich Hackenberg, board member in charge of technical development at Audi AG; Wolfgang Hatz, a board member of Porsche AG and head of Volkswagen group engine development; and Heinz-Jakob Neusser, a board member of the Volkswagen brand in charge of development. Source: Market Watch