MLB Launches Shohei Ohtani Investigation, As Other Law Enforcement Bodies Back Off – Report
deadline.comMajor League Baseball has announced a formal investigation into L.A. Dodger star Shohei Ohtani‘s role in a gambling scandal involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
Earlier this week, Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers after it came to light that at least $4.5 million in wire transfers was sent from Ohtani’s bank account to an alleged bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation.
Things became complicated after Ohtani’s handlers allowed Mizuhara to grant an interview to ESPN. In that interview, Mizuhara said Ohtani had paid off his interpreter’s gambling debts with the transfers.
However, the handlers then disavowed that interview, and Ohtani’s attorneys said the slugger had been the victim of a “massive theft” of the funds.
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