France Investigates Lafarge Executives for Terrorist Financing
- 6 years ago
France Investigates Lafarge Executives for Terrorist Financing
8, 2017
PARIS — The former chief executive of LafargeHolcim, the world’s largest cement maker,
and five other top officials are being formally investigated as part of a government inquiry into whether the company helped finance the Islamic State militant group and other armed factions while operating a factory in Syria.
Two other former executives from Lafarge’s Paris headquarters were placed under investigation this week: Bruno Lafont, the company’s chief executive from 2007 to 2015,
and Christian Herrault, the former director general, who was responsible for Lafarge’s operations in Syria and other countries.
Mr. Olsen resigned as chief executive in April after an internal inquiry found
that managers of Lafarge’s Syrian plant had paid armed groups to allow employees to move to and from the factory so that it could continue operating.
Last week, three former managers of Lafarge’s Syrian operations were placed under formal investigation over questions about funds paid to factions
that controlled the area where the cement plant was located.
Those being investigated include Frédéric Jolibois, the plant’s director from 2014 to 2016; Bruno Pescheux, who oversaw the plant from 2009 to 2014;
and Jean-Claude Veillard, Lafarge’s former security director based in Paris.
Since then, French judges have been examining the extent to which top Lafarge executives knew about the payments,
and whether the company may have bought oil linked to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in violation of United Nation sanctions and a 2011 European Union embargo.
8, 2017
PARIS — The former chief executive of LafargeHolcim, the world’s largest cement maker,
and five other top officials are being formally investigated as part of a government inquiry into whether the company helped finance the Islamic State militant group and other armed factions while operating a factory in Syria.
Two other former executives from Lafarge’s Paris headquarters were placed under investigation this week: Bruno Lafont, the company’s chief executive from 2007 to 2015,
and Christian Herrault, the former director general, who was responsible for Lafarge’s operations in Syria and other countries.
Mr. Olsen resigned as chief executive in April after an internal inquiry found
that managers of Lafarge’s Syrian plant had paid armed groups to allow employees to move to and from the factory so that it could continue operating.
Last week, three former managers of Lafarge’s Syrian operations were placed under formal investigation over questions about funds paid to factions
that controlled the area where the cement plant was located.
Those being investigated include Frédéric Jolibois, the plant’s director from 2014 to 2016; Bruno Pescheux, who oversaw the plant from 2009 to 2014;
and Jean-Claude Veillard, Lafarge’s former security director based in Paris.
Since then, French judges have been examining the extent to which top Lafarge executives knew about the payments,
and whether the company may have bought oil linked to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in violation of United Nation sanctions and a 2011 European Union embargo.