Shohei Ohtani to Address Media Amid Investigation into Theft Allegations Against Interpreter
Tune in as Shohei Ohtani, the renowned Los Angeles Dodgers player, prepares to speak to the press on Monday regarding the ongoing Major League Baseball inquiry into theft accusations involving his previous interpreter.
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will be speaking to the media on Monday regarding allegations of theft against his former interpreter. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his support for Ohtani, hoping that his words will provide more clarity on the situation.
Roberts spoke before the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory over Ohtani’s former team, the Los Angeles Angels. The teams will play again on Monday at Dodger Stadium.
Ohtani’s longtime Japanese interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was dismissed after Ohtani’s lawyers accused him of stealing millions of dollars and betting with a bookmaker under federal investigation, as reported by ESPN and the Los Angeles Times.
The start of MLB's new season has been overshadowed by a scandal involving one of baseball's biggest stars. This has raised questions about the relationship between professional sports and gambling, bringing renewed scrutiny to the industry.
According to an attorney representing Mathew Bowyer, a former bookmaker under federal investigation for gambling-related offenses, Bowyer has denied any direct contact with Ohtani. However, he did admit to conducting business with Mizuhara.
"Diane Bass, the attorney, clarified in an on-camera interview with CNN on Saturday that Mathew Bowyer had no form of communication with Shohei Ohtani, whether it be speaking, emailing, texting, or any other form of contact."
"In addition, the attorney mentioned that Ohtani's interpreter never engaged in betting on baseball."
The MLB and the Internal Revenue Service are separately investigating the interpreter.
New Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani (L) attends an introductory press conference with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara on Dec. 14, 2023, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kyodo News via Getty Images)
New Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani attended an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2023. He was accompanied by interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. A photo from the event was taken by Kyodo News/Getty Images.
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"Last week, Major League Baseball announced that they have been gathering information about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media. Today, their Department of Investigations has officially started looking into the matter."
According to IRS spokesman Scott Villiard, the IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office is currently conducting an investigation on both Mizuhara and Bowyer. Bowyer, a California resident, was revealed in bankruptcy court documents to have had gambling debts of $425,000 over ten years ago.
Ohtani and Mizuhara first started working together in 2013 when Mizuhara was a translator for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Ohtani's team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League. When Ohtani moved to the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, he asked Mizuhara to join him as his translator during his rookie season. Eventually, Mizuhara also followed Ohtani to the Dodgers as reported by CNN.
According to ESPN's Tisha Thompson, who cited multiple unnamed sources on CNN's "The Lead," it was revealed that at least $4.5 million was withdrawn from Ohtani's bank accounts via wire transfer. The details of who initiated these transfers remain unclear.
CNN has reached out to Mizuhara and Ohtani’s agent for comment. Ohtani’s attorneys have not provided specifics on how they think the money was taken, leading to more curiosity surrounding the controversy that came to light as Ohtani made his highly awaited debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The attorney representing the bookie talks to CNN.
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MLB launches investigation into Ohtani allegations
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CNN
Bass, the lawyer representing Bowyer, informed CNN that her client had interactions with Ippei Mizuhara.
On Saturday, Bass mentioned that during a conversation about a wire transfer to Bowyer’s group for a bet, "Mr. Bowyer believed that the bet originated from Ippei, or it was being paid by Mr. Ohtani on behalf of Ippei."
Bass clarified that Bowyer, though being investigated by federal authorities, has not yet faced any criminal charges. She mentioned that Bowyer ceased his bookmaking activities in October 2023 when federal agents arrived at his residence.
According to Bass, Bowyer first crossed paths with Mizuhara after a Padres game in San Diego back in 2022. While Bass admitted to not having details on the frequency or amount of Mizuhara's bets, she did mention that Bowyer informed her about Mizuhara's regular betting habits, focusing mainly on soccer with occasional bets on football and basketball, but not baseball.
Mizuhara stated to ESPN that he never placed bets on baseball. He emphasized that he was fully aware of the rule prohibiting it, as they had discussed it in a meeting during spring training.
Bass mentioned that Mizuhara's gambling became excessive at one point. However, he noted that Mizuhara had been consistently making payments for a considerable period of time.
Bass told CNN that she doesn't know which account the payments came from, whether it was Mizuhara's or Ohtani's. She mentioned that she doesn't have access to that specific information.
The saga started when reporters began questioning alleged wire transfers from Ohtani's bank account. Here's how the scandal played out:
Mizuhara revealed in an interview with ESPN on a Tuesday, set up by Ohtani's representative, that he had requested Ohtani to settle his gambling debt last year. According to ESPN, Mizuhara clarified that Ohtani had no part in his betting activities.
After the interview, Ohtani's spokesperson denied Mizuhara's account and later stated that Ohtani had been a victim of theft.
On the same day, Mizuhara was spotted smiling in the LA dugout and conversing with Ohtani before serving as his translator during the team's 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the MLB season-opening game in Seoul, South Korea.
On Wednesday, Mizuhara was fired as Ohtani’s interpreter. Later, MLB announced it would be pursuing an investigation after learning about the allegations against Ohtani and Mizuhara. The IRS also confirmed it was investigating the translator.
CNN’s Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The ongoing scandal surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter highlights the potential risks associated with the relationship between professional sports and gambling. The allegations of theft and betting with a bookmaker under federal investigation raise concerns about the integrity of the game and the influence of gambling on athletes. It is essential that both the MLB and the IRS conduct thorough investigations to determine the truth and hold any wrongdoers accountable.
Furthermore, this incident underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the sports industry. Athletes, teams, and organizations must be vigilant in preventing and addressing any potential conflicts of interest or illegal activities. The allegations against Ohtani's interpreter serve as a reminder that even the most respected and successful individuals can be involved in questionable behavior. It is crucial to maintain high ethical standards and to foster a culture of integrity throughout the sports world.
