PARIS, Jan 16 (Reuters): France's highest court on Tuesday rejected a request from French cement maker Lafarge that it dismiss charges of complicity in crimes against humanity as part of an enquiry into how the group kept its factory running in Syria after war broke out in 2011.
The procedural ruling, which upheld an earlier decision by a lower court, is not a verdict on guilt.
But it means a multi-year investigation into the company's criminal liability on the grounds of alleged, highly symbolic crimes against humanity charges can continue.
It is unclear when the investigation will be completed and whether prosecutors will decide to send the case to court for a ruling on the substance of the accusations.
The company's court action was successful in part in that the court dropped charges of endangering the life of its staff.
Lafarge in a statement said the decision was a "legacy issue" that it was addressing "through the legal process in France". It did not provide further comment.
The company, which became part of Swiss-listed Holcim in 2015, has been the subject of an investigation into its operations in Syria since 2016, one of the most extensive corporate criminal proceedings in recent French legal history.
Anna Kiefer, a lawyer for French campaign group Sherpa, which had lodged a criminal complaint against Lafarge, said the court's decision was a "partial victory".
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