Lafarge Terrorism Financing Trial Postponed to November 18 over Procedural Irregularity
The Lafarge terrorism financing trial has been postponed to November 18 due to procedural irregularities involving a defendant's referral order extending beyond permissible dates.
- • The Lafarge trial was postponed to November 18 due to procedural irregularities in defendant Bruno Pescheux’s referral order.
- • Pescheux’s indictment period was irregularly extended to September 19, 2014, beyond Court of Cassation norms.
- • Lafarge is accused of paying millions to jihadist groups ISIS and Jabhat al-Nosra to keep a Syrian cement plant running.
- • The trial includes former CEO Bruno Lafont, five executives, and two Syrian intermediaries, one under an international arrest warrant.
Key details
The terrorism financing trial of the French cement giant Lafarge and eight former executives has been postponed until November 18, 2025, following an identified procedural irregularity concerning one of the defendants. The Paris correctional tribunal found an 'irregularity in the referral order' related to Bruno Pescheux, former director of Lafarge's Syrian subsidiary from 2008 to 2014. Pescheux was indicted for alleged offenses dated between 2012 and July 2014; however, the referral extended this period up to September 19, 2014, which the court deemed irregular under Court of Cassation jurisprudence.
The court has sent the order back to the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office for correction. The trial, which is scheduled to resume on November 18 and conclude on December 19, involves charges against Lafarge for allegedly paying several million euros during 2013 and 2014 to jihadist rebel groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nosra, to maintain the operation of its Jalabiya cement plant in northern Syria.
In addition to Lafarge, several prominent figures face prosecution, including former CEO Bruno Lafont, five former executives involved in operational and security aspects, and two Syrian intermediaries, one of whom is currently under an international arrest warrant. Although the defense has submitted over ten requests related to the irregularities, the court decided to consolidate these motions and will address them in its final judgment.
This trial spotlights the complex legal and ethical challenges surrounding corporate conduct in conflict zones and the accountability of multinational companies for alleged financing of terrorist entities.