London (CNN Business) French telecom company Orange and its former CEO were found guilty on Friday of "institutional moral harassment" that the court said contributed to a spate of suicides among employees.

Orange FNCTF In a landmark ruling, the Paris court sentenced the former CEO, Didier Lombard, to a year in prison, with eight months suspended, and fined€75,000 ($83,200). Lombard was also ordered to pay a €15,000 ($16,600) fine. He is appealing the judgment, according to media reports. His lawyer declined to comment.

Two other former executives were found guilty of the same charge. They were handed the same jail terms and fines as Lombard. Another four were charged with "complicity in psychological harassment" and given four month suspended jail sentences with fines of €5,000 ($5,500) each.

Orange will not appeal the ruling, according to a statement on its website.

The company is the first of its size in France to be tried for psychological harassment, opening the door for future cases.

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