France, April 13 -- Lafarge's former CEO Bruno Lafont was sentenced to six years in prison for financing "terrorism", which a judge ordered him to start serving immediately, while former deputy managing director Christian Herrault received a five-year sentence.

Lafarge itself, now owned by the Swiss conglomerate Holcim, was fined 1.125 million euros ($1.3 million).

Judges determined that Lafarge paid €5.6 million to jihadist groups, including the Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, both designated as terrorists by the European Union, between 2013 and September 2014.

The defendants included the company, five former members of operational and security staff, and two Syrian intermediaries.

The court found all eig...