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Global

Former SocGen trader Kerviel leaves prison


    PARIS (Reuters) - Jerome Kerviel, the Frenchman at the heart of the world's biggest rogue trading scandal, left jail on Tuesday after winning a legal battle against detention.

    Kerviel, 31, walked free from the Sante prison in Parisafter five weeks in custody while investigators continue toprobe heavy losses at French bank Societe Generale.

    Looking relaxed in a dark suit and pink shirt andaccompanied by his lawyer, Kerviel posed and smiled briefly forcameras and was driven off in a small car.

    His lawyer successfully appealed against his detentionearlier on Tuesday.

    He has been released on conditions limiting his movements.

    SocGen unveiled 4.9 billion euros (3.8 billion pounds) oftrading losses in January and blamed them on unauthorised stockmarket deals carried out by Kerviel, a junior trader at thebank.

    Kerviel is under formal investigation for breach of trust,computer abuse and falsification.

    (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta)