Former Lafarge CEO Jailed for Six Years Over ISIS Funding

​PARIS – In a landmark ruling that sends shockwaves through the global corporate sector, a French court has sentenced Bruno Lafont, the former Chief Executive Officer of cement giant Lafarge, to six years in prison. The verdict, delivered Monday by the Paris Criminal Court, marks the first time a major multinational executive has been held criminally liable for financing terrorism to maintain business operations in a war zone.

​The court found that between 2013 and 2014, Lafarge paid approximately $6.5 million (€5.6 million) to various jihadist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front. These payments were made through the company’s subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS), to ensure the continued operation of its Jalabiya plant in northern Syria amidst the country’s brutal civil war.

​“A Commercial Partnership with Terror”

​Presiding Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez described the arrangement as a “genuine commercial partnership” with terrorist organizations. The court noted that the funds helped jihadists strengthen their grip on regional resources and facilitated acts of terror both in the Middle East and abroad, including the January 2015 attacks in France.

ADVERTISEMENT

​The judge slammed Lafont for his “bad faith” and “cowardice” throughout the proceedings, ordering his immediate incarceration. Lafont, who led the company from 2007 to 2015, had previously denied the allegations, characterizing the inquiry as “biased.” His legal team has already signaled its intent to appeal the ruling.

​Corporate and Individual Accountability

​Lafarge, which merged with the Swiss conglomerate Holcim in 2015, was also fined $1.3 million (€1.1 million), the maximum penalty available under French law for a legal entity on these charges. This follows a 2022 settlement in the United States where the company pleaded guilty to similar charges and paid a staggering $778 million fine.

​Beyond Lafont, several other former executives received sentences ranging from 18 months to seven years for their roles in orchestrating the payments, which were often disguised as security costs or raw material purchases.

​The Human Cost

​The case was largely driven by complaints from former Syrian employees and NGOs, who alleged that the company prioritized profits over the lives of its staff. While the executives celebrated continued production, local workers faced kidnappings and were forced to navigate sniper-filled routes to reach the plant.

​Despite the convictions for terror financing, the court ruled that the former employees were not entitled to direct compensation under these specific charges. However, a separate, more severe investigation into complicity in crimes against humanity remains ongoing, leaving the door open for further legal repercussions for the cement giant.