A French court on Monday convicted cement company Lafarge of financing the Islamic State group and other armed groups in Syria to ensure its plant remained operational between 2013 and 2014.
The court ordered the company to pay fines totaling more than €5.6 million for its Syrian subsidiary's involvement in deals with intermediaries and terrorists that allowed the group to control natural resources and finance attacks in Europe.
Prison sentences for executives: The court sentenced former CEO Bruno Lafont to six years in prison with immediate effect, while former managing director Christian Harrault received a five-year sentence.
The list of those convicted also included five other executives and two Syrian intermediaries on charges of financing terrorism and violating international sanctions that were in place at the time.
The company's funds enabled the Islamic State to finance military operations and secure energy resources in the region.
Heavy Fines
The court imposed the maximum fine of €1.125 million on the company, in addition to a customs penalty of €4.57 million, to be paid jointly with its executives.
Judge Isabelle Prévost stated that the company's financing of terrorist organizations was essential to enabling their expansion on the ground. Lafarge, in an official statement, simply indicated that it was studying the court's reasoning.
Zaman al-Wasl's Role in Exposing the Case
The case stems from investigative reports published by Zaman al-Wasl in 2016, which revealed, with supporting documents, the French giant's involvement in trade with the organization and its facilitation of access to sensitive chemicals used as rocket fuel.
These reports previously led to the resignation of the company's CEO, Eric Olsen, before the case was referred to French and international courts.
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