Myanmar releases Japanese director convicted of selling rice above agreed prices

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese executive who was detained in Myanmar for more than a month has been released after being convicted of violating rice pricing laws, officials said Tuesday.

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, a director at an Aeon Orange supermarket in Myanmar, had been in custody in Myanmar since his June 30 arrest for selling rice at prices higher than official regulations. Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that the Japanese national had been convicted of violating the Daily Needs and Services Act. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 500,000 kyat (about $150).

Kasamatsu was released on Monday afternoon, said Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for Myanmar’s ruling military council.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry said it was unclear whether Kasamatsu would stay in Myanmar or return to Japan. He has been released from detention and is in good health, but declined to provide further details.

Rice is essential in Myanmar, a country struggling to stabilize its economy as a civil war disrupts efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021, sparking peaceful protests that turned into armed resistance.

Aeon Orange is part of Japanese retail giant Aeon Group and operates several supermarkets in Myanmar. Aeon said it had no immediate comment.

Kasamatsu was one of several foreign executives arrested in Myanmar on similar charges.

State-run Myanmar Alin reported in early July that the arrests for allegedly inflating rice prices — ranging from 31% to 70% over official prices set by the Myanmar Rice Federation — involved 62 suspects, 102 warehouses, 53 supermarkets and hypermarkets, 25 flour mills and seven other shops in major cities.

Japan has historically maintained friendly relations with Myanmar. Compared with many Western countries, it has taken a softer approach to Myanmar’s military government because of its poor record on human rights and undermining of democracy. Tokyo has not imposed economic sanctions, although it does not recognize the legitimacy of the current government and calls for a restoration of democracy, and limits Japanese aid to humanitarian purposes.

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Associated Press writer Grant Peck contributed this article from Bangkok.