French judges have dropped preliminary charges against LafargeHolcim’s former CEO,Eric Olsen, for "financing a terrorist enterprise." The accusation is rooted in a broader investigation into French cement maker Lafarge’s operations in northern Syria at a time when extremist groups were on the rise. Lafarge was taken over by its Swiss rival, and Holcim,in 2015. "This decision clears my honor and will allow me to resume my career," said Olsen in a press statement. The Syria scandal prompted Olsen, or the first CEO post-merger,to step down. The former general manager of the world's main cement company remains under investigation for "endangering the lives of others". According to a source close to the file cited by French news agency AFP, he is also contesting these charges, and arguing that he had not committed any offence because he had no decision-making power over the region concerned at the time of the events. During an investigation,eight former executives or managers, ...
Source: swissinfo.ch