Paris, April 13, (dpa/GNA) – The French cement manufacturer Lafarge, has been found guilty of financing terrorism, in connection with its business operations in Syria following the outbreak of the country’s civil war, French media reported on Monday.
A Paris court reportedly ruled that the company must pay a fine of just over €1 million ($1.2 million), and an additional fine for having disregarded international sanctions. The ruling can still be appealed.
Despite the civil war, which began in 2011, Lafarge maintained its operations at a plant in northern Syria until 2014. The local branch of the company paid just under €5.6 million to armed groups, in order to keep the plant running, broadcaster France Info reported, citing the court.
At that time, the terrorist militia Islamic State, smaller Islamist factions and Kurdish groups were active in northern Syria.
The court found that the money, had also enabled the preparation of terrorist attacks in Europe, Le Parisien reported.
According to the newspaper, several former Lafarge executives were sentenced to between five and six years in prison, and ordered to pay fines as part of the proceedings. Two security officers and two intermediaries also stood trial.
The company has not responded to a request for comment.
GNA