Former Lafarge executives released after terrorism financing conviction in Syria

13:30

Former executives of the French cement company Lafarge were released under judicial supervision on Tuesday after being convicted for financing armed extremist groups in Syria.

Among those released were former CEO Bruno Lafont and former deputy managing director Christian Herrault, who had been placed in custody in mid-April following a ruling by the Paris Criminal Court.

The two men were sentenced on April 13 to prison terms of six and five years respectively for their involvement in activities linked to Lafarge’s Syrian subsidiary between 2013 and 2014. According to prosecutors, the company allegedly transferred millions of euros to armed jihadist factions in order to maintain operations at a cement plant located in Jalabiya, northern Syria.

After requesting provisional release on May 19, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled that continued detention was not necessary to ensure their appearance before the courts. Judges also considered the impact of incarceration on the two former executives.

As part of their judicial supervision, both men are prohibited from leaving French territory and must pay financial guarantees before July 2. Authorities set the amounts at €100,000 for Bruno Lafont and €90,000 for Christian Herrault.

The court, however, rejected a request from prosecutors to ban communication between the two former executives. Reports indicated that both had been held in the same prison cell at La Santé prison in Paris.

Defense lawyer Jacqueline Laffont welcomed the decision, saying she was relieved that the judiciary had applied the law fairly.

The case remains one of the most significant corporate terrorism-financing trials in France in recent years. Several former executives, along with the company itself, have appealed their convictions and are expected to face a new trial in the coming months.

Lafarge, once considered a major symbol of French industry before merging with Swiss-based Holcim, was also fined for violating international financial sanctions.