Interpreter Embezzling 22 Billion Asks Otani to "Consider It as Debt Repayment"

Ohtani Immediately Dismissed After Full Details Revealed
Accessed Account to Embezzle 22 Billion Won Over 2 Years

Former interpreter Mizuhara Ippei, who tampered with the funds of Major League Baseball (MLB) star Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers) to repay illegal gambling debts, reportedly asked Ohtani to "pay off the debt on his behalf."

The New York Times (NYT) provided a detailed report on Mizuhara's so-called "gambling scandal." Mizuhara first confessed to his gambling addiction on the 20th of last month, when the LA Dodgers team was in Seoul for the MLB opening game.

According to the New York Times' investigation, the LA Dodgers held a meeting at that time. At this meeting, Mizuhara confessed his gambling addiction and apologized. However, since the meeting was conducted only in English, Ohtani did not fully understand the detailed situation. Eventually, Ohtani and Mizuhara met again late at night to talk.

Shohei Ohtani (right) of the LA Dodgers and former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara during a media interview last December.
[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

It was at this time that Ohtani first learned that Mizuhara had been involved in illegal gambling and had incurred a large debt. Mizuhara reportedly asked Ohtani, "Please consider the gambling debt as if you paid it." Ohtani immediately rejected Mizuhara's request and called his agent into the meeting room.

Ohtani's agent contacted people who could resolve the situation, including an LA lawyer, a New York crisis communication executive, and a new interpreter, and Mizuhara was promptly dismissed right after the meeting.

The day after the meeting, on the 21st of last month, Mizuhara returned to LA on a separate flight. At the airport, he was taken into custody by local authorities and underwent a three-week investigation. A search and seizure of his mobile phone was also conducted.

The U.S. federal prosecutors announced on the 11th that Mizuhara is accused of embezzling $16 million (approximately 22 billion KRW) from Ohtani's bank account to pay for sports gambling expenses and lying to gain access to Ohtani's bank account. Investigations revealed that Ohtani had never accessed his online account even once in the three years since opening the account.

From November 2021 to January of this year, Mizuhara accessed Ohtani's deposit account and secretly embezzled over $16 million, which he sent to gambling operators. He concealed his crimes for two years by changing the contact information linked to Ohtani's bank account. He is also accused of impersonating Ohtani by calling the bank and getting approval for large transfers.