Freed Japanese exec arrives in Bangkok after conviction in Myanmar

In fine health, the prisoner arrives in Bangkok and is shortly to travel back to Japan.

An Aeon Orange supermarket in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo: Kyodo)
An Aeon Orange retailer in Yangon, Myanmar. ( Photo: Kyodo )

A joint venture of Chinese retailer network Aeon Company in Myanmar has released an executive who was found guilty of breaking the country’s military-style rice pricing laws, according to political resources.

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, aged 53, the products section commander of Aeon Orange Co, arrived in Bangkok from Yangon the same day without any major health problems, they said.

He was convicted, sentenced to one time in jail and fined on Monday. People with knowledge of the situation said he was being freed, but it was n’t immediately understood, adding that he is expected to be back in Japan soon.

Kasamatsu was detained in Yangon on June 30 for questioning, and he was charged on July 11, 2024.

In the first instance in which a Chinese banker was found guilty in connection with business engagement since its defense staged a coup in February 2021, ousting its civil state, in the Southeast Asian nation.

According to the military, Kasamatsu was detained for selling corn at charges up to 70 % higher than the level mandated by authorities.

Local media reported that dozens of Myanmar sellers of various products, including gasoline and cooking fuel, were detained in May and June for breaking price restrictions, with many of them never already released.

In contrast to Western nations, Japan’s decision to not impose restrictions on the defense or associated individuals and groups since the revolution led to the arrest of a Japanese-affiliated business established in Myanmar.

Following the coup, popular demonstrations against the military government turned into a violent conflict between the coup and opposition forces, which included pro-democracy armed groups and ethnic minority separatists, ravaging Myanmar’s business.

The dictatorship even established a research transfer rate for the kyat, which has weakened tremendously since the revolution, and attempted to stabilise marketplaces by setting the prices of essential goods, including grain.

Some retailers are breaking the rules to minimize losses because of the lower official prices.

Creation Myanmar Group of Companies and Aeon Orange became independent businesses in 2016.