LafargeHolcim’s former boss charged

It’s not just at a local level - where planning applications contain a catalogue of fiction - the question of integrity at LafargeHolcim, the company that owns Aggregate Industries, appears to go right to the top.

We posted again about LafargeHolcim and its involvement in Syria only last month, but matters have already moved on.

Earlier in the year, when it was announced that "LafargeHolcim CEO set to step down over Syria controversy", the FT reported Eric Olsen as saying:

While I was absolutely not involved in, nor even aware of, any wrongdoing I believe my departure will contribute to bringing back serenity to a company that has been exposed for months on this case

French prosecutors would appear to have a different idea, and rather than bringing back serenity, Bloomberg reported last week "Former LafargeHolcim CEO Charged With Syria Terrorism Funding". According to the FT:

Mr Olsen has been charged with financing terrorism and endangering the lives of others

You might expect criminals in the sand trade, according to this article in the Independent:

as sand becomes big business, the sand trade has attracted criminals

You don’t expect them at the top of the world’s largest building materials manufacturer.

Former LafargeHolcim chief charged in Syria probe https://t.co/rH1EOSRsOF pic.twitter.com/6Zlh8oR1fz

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) December 8, 2017