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PARIS, June 28 (Xinhua) — France’s largest cement maker Lafarge was put under formal investigation over allegedly funding terrorist activities in Syria, France Info radio reported on Thursday.
French prosecutors also charged the group with complicity in crimes against humanity and violation of an embargo in relation with its business in Syria between 2011 and 2014.
In early 2017, France launched a judicial inquiry into the construction company’s Syrian activities on allegations of “financing of terrorist enterprise.”
Last year, prosecutors placed three Lafarge officials under formal investigation for their alleged role in the affair after the company admitted to having paid 13 million euros (15.06 million U.S. dollars) to armed groups to keep a factory operating in the war-torn country.
Lafarge merged with Swiss company Holcim in 2015 to become LafargeHolcim, the world’s leading cement maker.
In a statement, the Swiss-based group said Lafarge “will appeal against those charges which do not fairly represent the responsibilities” of the company.
“We truly regret what has happened in the Syria subsidiary and after learning about it took immediate and firm actions…” said LafargeHolcim board chairman Beat Hess.

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