An Australian publisher who was sentenced to 13 years in jail in Myanmar on drugs charges has been released after less than three years behind bars, his ex-wife said on Saturday, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ross Dunkley, who co-founded the Myanmar Times in 2000 was convicted of drug offences in 2019 after police discovered heroin, crystal methamphetamine and marijuana at his house. He is one of a reported 23,000 prisoners reportedly being released as part of a New Year mass pardon.

The initial prison term was later reduced to seven years, with Dunkley serving his time in Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison, built in the 19th century during Britain’s colonial rule over the former Burma.

Dunkley is one of 137 foreigners reportedly released.

According to the newspaper, it is unclear if any of the more than 3,000 political prisoners locked up since the military coup - among them Australian economist Sean Turnell, an adviser to ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi - would be included in the list of detainees released.