French cement giant Lafarge will pay $778 million in US Department of Justice fines after pleading guilty to US charges of supporting ISIS terrorist group by operating its factory in Syria after the outbreak of the conflict out in 2011, according to a court hearing.
Acceptance in Brooklyn Federal Court Distinguished first The time the company pleaded guilty in The United States to bring charges of to provide material support for a terrorist organization. Lafarge that became a part of Holcim listed in Switzerland in 2015, is also facing shipment of complicity in crimes against humanity in Paris.
And the cement manufacturer had previously admitted, after an internal investigation, that its Syrian branch had paid money to armed groups help Protection of employees in the factory. But she denied accusations of collusion in crimes against humanity.
Lafarge has admitted that it paid around 13 million euros ($12.8 million) to brokers to keep the Syrian cement plant in operation. in 2013 and 2014, long after the withdrawal of other companies out of Country.
Lafarge SA and its dissolved subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria, “have agreed to plead guilty before one Number of conspiracy to submit material support to foreign terrorist organizations in Syria “.
“Lafarge SA and LCS have accepted responsibility for Actions of Relevant executive individuals, who behavior I was in flagrant violation of Lafarge code of Procedure.
“We deeply regret this behavior and its action with US Department of justice for resolve This matter.”
Holcim Group, the Swiss conglomerate that took over Lafarge in In 2015, he said the US Department of Justice acquitted him of any infraction.
She just learned of the allegations in In 2016, she launched her own probe and collaborated with we justice authorities.
“no one of The behavior relates to Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any operations or employees of Lafarge in The United States, and it is in blatant contradiction with Everything Holcim stands for for,” He Said in parallel statement.
The comments came shortly before the scheduled press conference for Ministry of Justice officials in New York to announce the settlement of The case is long standing.
Involved of Holcim has been temporarily suspended on Swiss stock exchange after news of The fine appeared.
Lafarge is a French industrial company in Cement, concrete and construction aggregates. The company accused of Payment of nearly 13 million euros ($13.68 million) to foreign groups, including terrorists group ISIS, to maintain their presence in the factory in The city of galabiya in Northern Syria during the civil war.
Chief Executive Officer Bruno Lafont and eight Lafarge executives were also Accused of terrorist financing group Putting lives at risk of others.
In 2019, the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed the charges of crimes against humanityAcceptance defense Those payments made Not used by Lafarge in Aiding or abetting the war effort. But other charges were up, including of Violation of the EU embargo.
Lafarge has denied any wrongdoing in Allegations that she negotiated with Terrorist organizations continued fight All counts.
Documents obtained and published by AA earlier revealed that Lafarge had constantly reported its ties to French intelligence agencies with ISIS terrorist group.
French cement giant Lafarge will pay $778 million in US Department of Justice fines after pleading guilty to US charges of supporting ISIS terrorist group by operating its factory in Syria after the outbreak of the conflict out in 2011, according to a court hearing.
Acceptance in Brooklyn Federal Court Distinguished first The time the company pleaded guilty in The United States to bring charges of to provide material support for a terrorist organization. Lafarge that became a part of Holcim listed in Switzerland in 2015, is also facing shipment of complicity in crimes against humanity in Paris.
And the cement manufacturer had previously admitted, after an internal investigation, that its Syrian branch had paid money to armed groups help Protection of employees in the factory. But she denied accusations of collusion in crimes against humanity.
Lafarge has admitted that it paid around 13 million euros ($12.8 million) to brokers to keep the Syrian cement plant in operation. in 2013 and 2014, long after the withdrawal of other companies out of Country.
Lafarge SA and its dissolved subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria, “have agreed to plead guilty before one Number of conspiracy to submit material support to foreign terrorist organizations in Syria “.
“Lafarge SA and LCS have accepted responsibility for Actions of Relevant executive individuals, who behavior I was in flagrant violation of Lafarge code of Procedure.
“We deeply regret this behavior and its action with US Department of justice for resolve This matter.”
Holcim Group, the Swiss conglomerate that took over Lafarge in In 2015, he said the US Department of Justice acquitted him of any infraction.
She just learned of the allegations in In 2016, she launched her own probe and collaborated with we justice authorities.
“no one of The behavior relates to Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any operations or employees of Lafarge in The United States, and it is in blatant contradiction with Everything Holcim stands for for,” He Said in parallel statement.
The comments came shortly before the scheduled press conference for Ministry of Justice officials in New York to announce the settlement of The case is long standing.
Involved of Holcim has been temporarily suspended on Swiss stock exchange after news of The fine appeared.
Lafarge is a French industrial company in Cement, concrete and construction aggregates. The company accused of Payment of nearly 13 million euros ($13.68 million) to foreign groups, including terrorists group ISIS, to maintain their presence in the factory in The city of galabiya in Northern Syria during the civil war.
Chief Executive Officer Bruno Lafont and eight Lafarge executives were also Accused of terrorist financing group Putting lives at risk of others.
In 2019, the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed the charges of crimes against humanityAcceptance defense Those payments made Not used by Lafarge in Aiding or abetting the war effort. But other charges were up, including of Violation of the EU embargo.
Lafarge has denied any wrongdoing in Allegations that she negotiated with Terrorist organizations continued fight All counts.
Documents obtained and published by AA earlier revealed that Lafarge had constantly reported its ties to French intelligence agencies with ISIS terrorist group.