At the beginning of June, we posted in LafargeHolcim: “a long history of questionable business practices” that it was expected that the company’s French unit would be placed under formal investigation over allegations of financing terrorism in Syria.
Yesterday, LafargeHolcim made the headlines across multiple news channels – including the BBC, The Telegraph, The Guardian, the FT – when it was confirmed:
LafargeHolcim’s French unit was placed under formal investigation in Paris over allegations the cement maker was “complicit in crimes against humanity” — one of the few companies in the world to face such an allegation.
An allegation of complicity in crimes against humanity is extremely unusual, according to lawyers and those involved with the case.
The Paris-based non-government organisation, Sherpa, said: “This is . . . a decisive step forward in the fight against the impunity of multinationals operating in armed conflict zones. That the courts are finally recognising the scope and seriousness of these allegations is absolutely historic.”
It was announced the company was to be formally investigated by French judges on Thursday over sanctions violations, endangering the lives of others, financing of terrorism and complicity in crimes against humanity.
The former managers under investigation include LafargeHolcim's first chief executive, Eric Olsen.
A panel of three judges in Paris ordered Lafarge to hand over €30m (£27m) to authorities as a security deposit ahead of the trial.
A source close to the inquiry said investigators also suspected that Lafarge sold cement to Isis.
LafargeHolcim is the parent company of Aggregate Industries.
