Ohtani Press Conference: "I never gambled and never paid my gambling debts"

[First compiled by New Sancai] Shohei Ohtani, a well-known second-string star player in the American major leagues, held a press conference on March 25 and stated that he has never bet on any sports events and has never knowingly repaid his long-term translator Ippei Mizuhara. Any gambling debts accumulated.

Instead, the Los Angeles Dodgers star claims his translator and close friend Mizuhara lied to him for years and stole millions of dollars from the two-time MVP.

Ohtani gave his side of the story at a news conference at Dodger Stadium, five days after Suwon was arrested after the Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported that Suwon was allegedly tied to an illegal bookmaker and owed well over $1 million. Fired by the Dodgers.

"I'm very saddened and shocked that someone I trusted would do something like this," Ohtani said. "Ippei has been stealing funds from my account and has been lying about it," Ohtani said. "I have never placed a bet on a sporting event or knowingly sent money to a bookmaker."

Ohtani spoke for nearly 12 minutes to a small room packed with dozens of reporters, describing several ways Suwon deceived him. Ohtani, wearing a Dodgers hat and sweatshirt, quickly read a document in Japanese without answering questions.

"I have never placed a bet on baseball or any other sports, nor have I ever asked others to place bets on my behalf, have I never placed a sports bet through a bookmaker, and have never been asked to assist others in paying for bets," Ohtani said.

The IRS has confirmed that Suwon is under criminal investigation through the agency's Los Angeles office.

On March 19, Suwon told ESPN that Ohtani paid off his gambling debt at the request of a translator, saying the bets were focused on international football, NBA, NFL and college football. Major League Baseball rules prohibit players and team employees from betting on baseball (even if it is legal), as well as betting on other sports through illegal or overseas bookmakers.

ESPN said that Suwon changed his story the next day, claiming that Dagu knew nothing about the gambling debt and did not transfer any funds to the gambling company.

"All of this is a complete lie," Ohtani said. "Ipping obviously basically didn't tell me about the media inquiry. So Ipping kept telling everyone around him that he had been communicating with me about it with the media and my team, but that was not the case."

Ohtani said he first became aware of Suwon's gambling problem during a team meeting following last Wednesday's season-opening win over San Diego in Seoul, South Korea.

"To sum up how I feel now, I'm just shocked," Ohtani said. "It's really difficult to put into words how I feel at this time. The season is about to start, so I will let my lawyers handle things from now on. I fully cooperate with all investigations that are currently underway."

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)