Ferdinand Piëch, Volkswagen chairman, on Wednesday denied having known of a big bribery scandal at the carmaker during his reign as chief executive, even though he admitted having had close contact with the protagonists of the affair.

Mr Piëch, giving evidence as a witness in the investigation into the €2.5m ($3.7m) scandal, said he had at “no point been aware” of the illegal special bonuses paid to a works council leader or of luxury holidays and sex parties paid for by VW during his stint as chief executive from 1993 to 2002.