Myanmar’s military-backed government has deported Adam Castillo, a U.S. businessman, after three months in jail on charges his supporters say were trumped-up BANGKOK -- Myanmar’s military-backed government has deported Adam Castillo, a U.S. businessman and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, after three months in jail on what supporters say were trumped-up charges, state media reported Wednesday. State-run MRTV television said Castillo was flown out of the capital, Naypyitaw, earlier in the day, “in consideration of the friendly relations between Myanmar and the United States.” The report said he had been charged with breach of trust over allegations he had violated the regulations of AmCham Myanmar. It did not say whether he had ever been brought to trial, or whether the charges had been dismissed.
Global Reach, a Washington-based nonprofit that seeks to bring home Americans who are being wrongly held abroad, which was engaged by Castillo’s family to help in the case, confirmed his release. Castillo, 40, was released into the custody of U.S. officials in Myanmar then flown to Bangkok, Thailand, and will soon return home to the U.S. "He had such great hopes for enhanced US/Myanmar relations, and he holds the deepest respect for the Burmese people, among whom he lived for many years.” The former U.S.
Marine, who was a founder and owner of the security risk management firm AGS Myanmar, was detained at Yangon International Airport on June 11 after returning from Malaysia. The arrest came after AmCham Myanmar accused him of financial impropriety, which he denies. At the time, Myanmar authorities would only say he had been arrested because “there was a crime and a lawsuit,” but did not provide further details.
AmCham Myanmar put out a statement on its website on Wednesday explaining its actions, saying it had “obtained independent legal advice and, consistent with its fiduciary duties and its obligations under its constitution, referred the matter to the appropriate authorities.” It was not clear whether the AmCham's former executive director who was also arrested in the case, Australian national Danny Kyaw, had also been released. The Australian Embassy in Myanmar had no immediate comment on the case Thursday. AmCham Myanmar's allegations against Castillo center around his lobbying effort aimed at generating interest in doing business with the restive Southeast Asian nation.
The MAGA loyalist had won audiences at the top levels in Washington to pitch his concept of getting the U.S. access to Myanmar’s abundant rare earth minerals in exchange for sanctions relief. At the same time, he was running one of Myanmar’s biggest security companies, and in March published a book detailing his experiences. The book was critical of U.S. sanctions on Myanmar, which he argued hurt businesses and people but not the military-backed government, but also critical of the military, known as the Tatmadaw, as well as AmCham leadership.
It also detailed an episode in which Castillo said he helped a well-known dissident escape the country. Castillo was arrested upon returning from promoting the book in Malaysia, at which point the contents of his memoir had likely become known to authorities, said Casey Barnett, who was president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia at the same time Castillo served in that role in Myanmar, and knew him from various events. Barnett noted that Myanmar had jailed a rapper for 20 years in 2023 just for criticizing the military government over electricity blackouts.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
