TOKYO -- A Japanese business executive who was detained in Myanmar for more than a month has been released after being convicted of violating rice pricing rules, officials said Tuesday.

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, a manager of the Myanmar supermarket Aeon Orange, has been detained in Myanmar since his arrest on June 30 for selling rice at prices exceeding the government-mandated rates . Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that the Japanese citizen was found guilty of breaking laws concerning essential goods and services. He received a one-year prison sentence and a 500,000 kyat (approximately $150) fine.

Kasamatsu was released on Monday afternoon, according to Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for Myanmar’s ruling military junta.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is uncertain whether Kasamatsu will remain in Myanmar or return to Japan. He has been freed from detention and is in good physical condition, the ministry said, but declined to provide additional details.

Rice is essential in Myanmar, a nation facing challenges in stabilizing its economy as internal conflict hinders recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The military took control from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, resulting in peaceful demonstrations that have transformed into armed opposition .

Aeon Orange, a subsidiary of Japan's prominent retail conglomerate Aeon, runs numerous supermarkets in Myanmar. Aeon declined to provide a statement at this time.

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

Myanmar's government-owned Alin newspaper reported in early July that authorities had apprehended 62 individuals accused of inflating rice prices — charging between 31% and 70% above the official rates set by the Myanmar Rice Federation. The arrests involved 102 storage facilities, 53 supermarkets and large grocery stores, 25 rice mills and seven other retail outlets in major urban centers.

Japan has traditionally held amicable relationships with Myanmar. In contrast to numerous Western nations, it adopted a more lenient stance towards Myanmar’s military junta regarding its deficient human rights record and erosion of democratic principles. Tokyo has refrained from imposing economic penalties despite not recognizing the legitimacy of the present administration and advocating for the reinstatement of democracy, confining Japanese assistance to humanitarian initiatives.

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Bangkok-based Associated Press journalist Grant Peck also contributed to this report.