To pay off gambling debts: the world’s highest-paid athlete scammed by his own interpreter

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In December last year, Shohei Ohtani (29) became the highest-paid athlete in the world. The Japanese signed a ten-year contract with the LA Dodgers totaling $700 million – no athlete has ever signed a better-paid contract.

Money that Ohtani is worth because he is an absolute phenomenon in baseball: he is not only a gifted pitcher, but also a good hitter. In football, this would be like Erling Haaland was also one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Before joining the Dodgers, Ohtani spent five years with the Los Angeles Angels. His interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was his constant companion in the US. But it has now become public that Ohtani was allegedly defrauded of $4.5 million by his translator.

Interpreter is addicted to gambling

“During numerous media investigations, we discovered that Shohei was the victim of a grand theft,” a spokesperson for the baseball superstar said. The American sports channel ESPN got the ball rolling.

After months of investigation, he confronted those involved. The first version stated that Ohtani had paid off his interpreter’s terrible gambling debts. Mizuhara explained how he fell into a gambling addiction after a poker game in 2021 and two years later had racked up more than four million in debt.

No one can ask about Ohtani’s version because he barely speaks English. Only after a team meeting where the matter was informed did Ohtani ask about it, and through a second translator it becomes clear: Mizuharas allegedly paid off his debts with Othani’s money without Othani’s knowledge.

Lawyers have now taken up the matter and although no official investigation has been launched, the theft of €4.5 million is likely to spur authorities into action. In the meantime, baseball god Ohtani hopes that the headlines will quickly push the fraud case into the background. His LA Dodgers start the baseball season on Thursday.

Source : Blick