France, May 26 -- The Paris Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that the two former executives could leave custody pending the appeal trial.

It said that pre-trial detention was "not the indispensable means" of ensuring they appear in court for the appeal.

The court also took into account what it described as the "shock of imprisonment" for the two men.

Lafont, 69, the former head of the CAC 40 cement giant, and 75-year-old Herrault, its former deputy managing director, were sentenced on 13 April by the Paris Criminal Court to six years and five years in prison respectively.

Both were immediately remanded in custody after the ruling.

On 19 May they applied to be released while awaiting a trial, after appealing their convictions.

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