Former Lafarge executives released pending appeal in Syria terrorism financing case

Former Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont and former deputy managing director Christian Herrault were released from prison under judicial supervision on Tuesday, pending their appeal against convictions for financing terrorism in Syria.

The Paris Court of Appeal ruled that pre-trial detention was "not the indispensable means" of ensuring their appearance at the appeal trial, citing the "shock of imprisonment" for the two men.

Lafont, 69, and Herrault, 75, were sentenced on 13 April by the Paris Criminal Court to six years and five years in prison respectively. Both were immediately remanded in custody after the ruling. They applied for release on 19 May after appealing their convictions.

Release conditions include a ban on leaving French territory. Bail was set at €100,000 for Lafont and €90,000 for Herrault, to be paid by 2 July. The court did not grant a prosecution request to bar the two men from contacting each other. The pair had reportedly been held in the same cell at La Santé prison in Paris.

Lafont's lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, welcomed the decision, telling AFP she was "relieved" and "above all reassured when magistrates, as is the case today, apply the law."

The convictions stem from payments made in 2013 and 2014 through Lafarge Cement Syria, the group's local subsidiary. The court found that nearly €5.6 million had been paid to armed jihadist groups to keep Lafarge's cement plant in Jalabiya, northern Syria, running during the country's civil war.

Lafarge itself was fined the maximum penalty of €1.125 million. The company was also ordered, jointly with four former executives, to pay a customs fine of €4.57 million for violating international financial sanctions.

All convicted parties — including the company — have appealed. A hearing is expected in the coming months.