Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is caught in a scandal, with allegations against his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, for embezzling funds due to gambling debts. The Dodgers have dismissed Mizuhara amidst these serious charges.
The controversy unfolded when Mizuhara was accused of diverting Ohtani’s money to settle bets through an illegal bookmaker, shocking the sports world. The Dodgers immediately fired Mizuhara on Wednesday following the accusations.
The issue came to light linked to a probe into Matthew Bowyer, suspected of illegal gambling. This led Ohtani’s team to discover what they call a “massive theft” of his finances by Mizuhara, involving millions of dollars.
West Hollywood’s Berk Brettler law firm emphasized the theft’s severity, indicating authorities’ involvement. Despite admitting to gambling, Mizuhara denied Ohtani’s betting involvement to ESPN’s Tisha Thompson, acknowledging his poor gambling outcomes. He confessed to betting on sports, incurring debts up to $4.5 million, yet insisted on Ohtani’s non-involvement in gambling activities. Mizuhara expressed regret and vowed never to bet again.