Overview
- The Paris criminal court is scrutinizing financial flows between Lafarge Cement Syria and armed groups including the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nosra.
- Prosecutors say roughly €5 million was paid in 2013–2014 to keep the Jalabiya cement plant operating after other multinationals quit Syria.
- Testimony outlines two streams of money covering production inputs such as hydrocarbons and pouzzolana as well as security payments for checkpoint passage.
- Firas Tlass, a Syrian minority shareholder tried in absentia, is portrayed as the key go-between for these arrangements.
- Executives frame the scheme as coerced protection to safeguard staff and assets, while former CEO Bruno Lafont denies knowing of any such payments before August 27, 2014.