Three high-ranking officials from the French-Swiss industrial giant Lafarge were subjected to an official investigation on suspicion of “financing a terrorist organization,” court sources reported. French prosecutors are studying the company’s activities in Syria.
The scandal hit the company “LafargeHolcim”, created after the French organization “Lafarge” merged with the Swiss company “Holcim” in 2015.
The document stated that Lafarge paid the terrorist group Islamic State in 2013-2014 to continue operations in northern Syria. The plant, which is located in the north of Syria, acted as the main channel for payments.
Frederick Jolibois, who took over as director of the plant in 2014, was accused of financing a terrorist organization, violating European rules concerning the embargo on Syrian oil, said his lawyer Jean Reinhart.
Frederick Jolibois admitted that his plant had conducted an operation to purchase oil from “non-governmental organizations”, in particular from Kurdish and Islamist groups.
In 2011, the European Union imposed sanctions on imports of Syrian oil, as well as investments in energy. The predecessor Bruno Peso and the former director of security Jean-Claude Veillard, was also charged with financing terrorism and threatening the lives of others, the source said.
Bruno Peso, who ran the plant from 2008 to 2014, acknowledged that the company had provided “some” funds to “certain armed groups” in order to “maintain operations.”
“LafargeHolcim” is the world leader in the field of building materials and one of the largest players in the cement and concrete industry.