Japanese baseball great Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter was released on bond and apologized through a lawyer April 12 after appearing in court on a bank fraud charge accusing him of stealing $16 million (¥2.46 billion) from the Los Angeles Dodgers star to cover illegal gambling debts.
Ippei Mizuhara, 39, who surrendered to authorities earlier in the day, did not enter a plea during a 25-minute proceeding before a U.S. District Court magistrate judge in downtown Los Angeles. He was ordered to return for an arraignment on May 9.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, issued a statement later saying his client “wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
“He is continuing to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility,” Freedman said. The comment suggested Mizuhara was negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.
The hearing came a day after prosecutors charged Mizuhara and publicly exonerated Ohtani in a case that had threatened to embroil the Dodgers, MLB and a power-hitting pitcher regarded as a national hero in his home country. (Reuters)
毎週届く！
