January 24, 2013 -- Updated 2239 GMT (0639 HKT) France's president praises the Mexican high court's decision Mexico's Supreme Court orders Florence Cassez freed Cassez was convicted on kidnapping charges in 2008 and sentenced to 60 years in prison, but Wednesday's 3-2 Supreme Court decision overturned that ruling and ordered her release. She was expected to depart Mexico for France Wednesday night, CNN affiliates reported. One justice had proposed that a lower court reconsider its sentence against Cassez, calling witness testimony identifying Cassez as a kidnapper invalid. But ultimately, the court ruled that there were so many significant irregularities during Cassez's detention and trial that she should be released from prison immediately. "These violations of the human rights of Florence Cassez are so serious that they create a corrupting effect in the entire process that makes it impossible for the Supreme Court to validate this process, this detention, all of these violations," said Arturo Zaldivar, one of the justices. On Wednesday, Cassez's lawyer said his client was "very excited" about the ruling. "It is a historic decision and a precedent in the defense of human rights," attorney Agustin Acosta said. But a well-known anti-crime advocate in Mexico criticized the high court's decision. "It seems to me that this opens the door to impunity and leaves the victims empty-handed," said Isabel Miranda de Wallace, president of a prominent Mexican anti-kidnapping group. For years, French officials have pushed for Cassez's release and asked Mexico's Supreme Court to consider the case. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault released a statement expressing his "deep solidarity" with Cassez "and everyone who helped her in her fight for truth and justice." "He welcomes the prospect of seeing Florence Cassez return to France as soon as possible," the statement said. CNN's Alex Felton, Rene Hernandez, Rafael Romo, Rey Rodriguez and CNNMexico's Tania L. Montalvo contributed to this report.