French Company LaFarge and the Islamic State

 https://www.hjnews.com/nation/french-company-islamic-state/image_4d122757-ca36-520b-98c1-060e8e781319.html

NEW YORK (AP) — French cement company Lafarge pleaded guilty Tuesday to paying millions of dollars to the Islamic State group to keep a plant operational in Syria — at a time when the militant group was engaged in torturing kidnapped Westerners — and agreed to pay roughly $778 million in penalties.

The Justice Department described it as the first case of its kind, accusing the company of turning a blind eye to the conduct of the Islamic State as the militant group gained new territory and as Syria was mired in a brutal civil war. The company's actions, already investigated by French authorities, occurred before it merged with Swiss company Holcim to form the world’s largest cement maker.

Magali Anderson CEO of LaFarge pleading guilty on behalf of the company. 
Artwork by Elizabeth Williams

United States District Judge William Kuntz addressing Magali Anderson 
Courtroom art by Elizabeth Williams 

Justice Department officials described it as the first instance in which a company has pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Lafarge and a long-defunct Syrian subsidiary entered the plea, agreeing to criminal fines of $90.78 million and a forfeiture of $687 million.

Magali Anderson CEO of LaFarge standing during hearing speaking to Judge Kuntz