Lafarge Ex-CEO Sentence To Jail for Funding Terrorism with $6.5M

A Paris court has convicted French cement company Lafarge of paying around $6.5 million to jihadist groups in Syria, including Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

The ruling marks the first time a company has been tried in France for financing terrorism.

Former CEO Bruno Lafont was sentenced to six years in prison for terrorism financing, while former deputy managing director Christian Herrault received a five-year sentence. The company was also fined €1.125 million.

The court found that the payments were made through intermediaries to secure the company’s operations and movement of staff in ISIS-controlled areas, but said the funds ultimately supported terrorist organisations responsible for violent activities in Syria and abroad.