Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s lawyer has accused his interpreter of “grand theft” of Ohtani’s money for allegedly placing bets with illegal bookmakers.
Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara puts the total amount of the theft in “several million dollars” According to the Los Angeles Times.
Ohtani’s lawyer made the claim to the outlet after it was revealed that the star’s name had come up during an investigation into alleged illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer of Orange County.
The paper reported that Ohtani’s agent investigated Mizuhara’s actions after he contacted Ohtani in Seoul, South Korea, ahead of the season-opening series against the Padres.
West Hollywood law firm Burke Buttler told the Los Angeles Times, “In the course of responding to recent media interviews, we learned that Shohei was the victim of grand theft, and we are reviewing this matter with authorities.” I have decided to hand him over,” he said in a statement. .
Mr. Mizuhara, who allegedly made a bet with Mr. Bowyer’s associates, was fired by the Dodgers. Confirmed by Jon Heyman of the Post..
After the Times article was published, things got a little murky. Report from ESPN.
A spokesperson for Ohtani told ESPN that the superstar sent Bowyer $4.5 million to cover Mizuhara’s debts and provided Mizuhara to the station to detail what happened.
The story then took a turn when Ohtani’s publicist “disavowed” Mizuhara’s remarks and sent the same statement to ESPN that Ohtani’s lawyer sent to the Times.
ESPN’s report emphasized that Ohtani does not gamble and that Mizuhara’s bets were on sports such as international soccer, not baseball.
“Mr. Bowyer has never met or spoken to Shohei Ohtani,” Bowyer’s attorney Diane Bass told ESPN, declining to respond to further questions.
“Obviously he [Ohtani] “He wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me not to do it again,” Mizuhara said in a statement to ESPN. “He decided to pay it back for me.”
“I want everyone to know that Shohei was never involved in gambling. I want people to know that I had no idea this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. . I will never bet on sports again.”
Mizuhara later changed his story and said Otani knew nothing about his bet and did not initiate the transfer.
Ohtani signed a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, with $680 million of that contract deferred until the end of his contract.
He played his first seven MLB seasons with the Angels, winning the MVP award twice as the best hitter and pitcher since at least Babe Ruth.
Mizuhara, who could not be reached by the Times, was also Otani’s interpreter during his time with the Angels.
Ohtani will not pitch this season as he recovers from elbow surgery, but hopes to return to the mound in a few years.
During the offseason, Ohtani revealed that he had married basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.
This is a developing story
