Otani stole 6 billion won... 'Otani's close friend' interpreter squandered it through illegal gambling
by Lim Juhyeong
Published 21 Mar.2024 08:24(KST)
Updated 22 Mar.2024 08:31(KST)
Confession of Gambling Addiction to Team
Dodgers Immediately Terminate
7-Year Friendship with Ohtani Also Ends
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers, 30) is at the center of a shocking investigation after his interpreter was found to have stolen Ohtani's money while engaging in sports gambling. The team immediately fired Itpei Mizuhara.
On the 21st (Korean time), the US media outlet 'LA Times' reported that Mizuhara, Ohtani's interpreter, was dismissed by the team. Mizuhara was recently involved in illegal gambling and was found to have embezzled a large amount of Ohtani's funds during this process. After the theft was uncovered, Ohtani's legal representatives promptly filed a complaint.
Earlier, during an investigation of illegal gambler Matthew Boyer, who resides in Orange County, USA, the name 'Ohtani' came up. Upon hearing this, Ohtani's legal team launched a fact-finding investigation, revealing that Mizuhara had been using Ohtani's funds to place large illegal bets.
The amount Mizuhara embezzled from Ohtani is estimated to be at least $4.5 million (approximately 6 billion KRW). A lawyer from the West Hollywood law firm issued a statement saying, "In response to recent media inquiries, we discovered during the investigation that Ohtani is a victim of large-scale theft," adding, "This case has been handed over to judicial authorities."
The US sports media outlet 'ESPN' reported that Mizuhara disclosed his gambling addiction after the first game of the Seoul Series held at Gocheok Dome in Korea on the 20th. He also admitted to misappropriating Ohtani's money.
As a result, the relationship between Ohtani and Mizuhara appears to be ending in disaster. The two have been close since Ohtani joined the LA Angels in 2017. Ohtani hired him as an interpreter when he transferred to the Dodgers and even brought him along for the Seoul Series. Mizuhara was reportedly one of Ohtani's closest associates since his move to the United States.
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