Myanmar’s military regime on Thursday charged a Japanese businessman who was arrested late last month over an alleged illegal practice related to the sale of rice, diplomatic sources said.
The first hearing in the case against Hiroshi Kasamatsu, a 53-year-old employee of Japanese retailer Aeon, took place on Thursday in a court in Yangon, the largest city in the Southeast Asian country, people familiar with the matter said.
It is unclear when a verdict will be delivered. If found guilty, Kasamatsu could face between six months and three years behind bars.
The Japanese government has called on the junta to release Kasamatsu quickly, but he remains in custody.
Kasamatsu, head of the produce department at Aeon’s supermarket joint venture in Myanmar, was arrested by police on June 30 for allegedly selling rice at prices higher than those set by authorities.
Myanmar has been grappling with economic turmoil amid fighting between the junta and the resistance since a military coup in 2021. Prices of rice and other goods have risen as a result, prompting authorities to tighten controls, including by cracking down on businesses.
The latest measures show that Japanese companies are not exempt from such measures, and underscore the risks of continuing to do business in Myanmar.
