Lafarge cement convicted of financing terrorism operations

Lafarge has been found guilty by a French court of financing terrorism after it paid millions of dollars to jihadist groups, including the Islamic State, to sustain its operations in Syria during the civil war.

The Paris court according to a report by the Cable Nigeria, said the company made payments of about $6.5 million between 2013 and 2014 to armed groups in northern Syria to secure staff movement, maintain access to raw materials and keep its cement plant in Jalabiya operating.

The court found that the payments extended to the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda-linked organisation designated as a terrorist group.

Presiding judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez said the arrangement enabled proscribed organisations to obtain financial resources used to support attacks across the Middle East and Europe.

“The payments were essential in enabling terrorist organisations to gain control of resources and finance attacks within the region and abroad,” she said.

Eight former employees were also convicted. Former chief executive Bruno Lafont was sentenced to six years in prison, while former deputy managing director Christian Herrault received a five-year sentence. Syrian former employee Firas Tlass was sentenced in absentia to seven years.

Lafarge, now owned by Swiss group Holcim, said it accepted the ruling, describing the case as a legacy matter involving conduct that occurred more than a decade ago and in breach of its code of conduct.

“We acknowledge the court’s findings. These actions, which date back more than a decade, were in flagrant violation of Lafarge’s code of conduct,” the company said.

The company acquired the Jalabiya plant in northern Syria in 2008 and began operations in 2010, shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. Payments continued until September 2014. (Guardian)