France: Former Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont and his deputy Christian Herrault, currently in a Paris prison following their convictions for offences relating to payments to terrorist groups by Lafarge Syria in the 2010s, have appealed for release, pending a retrial. A decision on whether they can be released will be made on 26 May 2026, according to France 24.
Due to their appeals, the detention of Lafont and Herrault now falls under the criteria for pretrial detention, which differ from those for a warrant of committal. Appearing via video conference from La Santé prison, Lafont denied that he was a flight risk, despite his considerable financial assets. His lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, denounced what she called the ‘particularly shocking, striking and violent’ decision against her client, who reportedly went to prison ‘with nothing, without money, without a toothbrush.’
If they are released, Lafont and Herrault will be banned from speaking to each other.
