Hiroshi Kasamatsu, 53, merchandise division chief of Aeon Orange Co., departed Yangon on Tuesday and transited through Bangkok before reaching Japan. He had been held in custody for approximately six weeks, with the reasons for his sudden release remaining unclear, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Myanmar's military authorities alleged that Kasamatsu had sold rice at prices up to 70 percent above government-mandated levels. He was detained on June 30, indicted on July 11, and on Monday received a one-year prison sentence along with a fine before being transferred to Japanese officials.
This case marks the first instance of a Japanese national being convicted in relation to business activities in Myanmar since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup. Aeon Co. reported that Kasamatsu appeared to be in good health upon his return.
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