Myanmar's military has released a Japanese businessman who was sentenced to one year in prison for breaching controls on rice prices.

Diplomatic sources say Kasamatsu Hiroshi was freed from a facility in Yangon on Monday night after about a month and a half in detention. He is said to be in good health.

Myanmar military sources confirmed to NHK that Kasamatsu has been released but did not say why.

Aeon says they are aware of reports that he has been released, but are trying to confirm facts.

Kasamatsu is the chief of the merchandise division at supermarket operator Aeon Orange, a local unit of Japanese retail giant Aeon.

He was detained by police in Yangon in June for allegedly selling rice at prices higher than levels set by the military.

He was indicted for violating the pricing rules. A court handed down his prison sentence on Monday.

Prices of food and medicine have been soaring in Myanmar since the military seized power in a coup three years ago. To rein in inflation, the military has imposed fixed prices and detained people accused of violating the rules.