6 years and 9 months in prison for corruption, including the fall of Park Chan-ho, who was greatly loved in Korea, and embezzlement after entering politics in Mondesi
Jul 09, 2024
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In an article on the 9th (Korea time), the AP reported that `Former LA Dodgers outfielder Raul Mondesi was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and fined $507,000 by a Dominican court. Mondesi was involved in corruption during his time as mayor of San Cristobal, it reported.
Mondesi returned to the Dominican Republic shortly after his retirement in 2005 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 to begin his political career, becoming mayor of San Cristobal in 2010 and serving for six years until 2016. However, after leaving office, he was found to have embezzled about $5 million when he was mayor, and the court's final decision was made over the weekend.
However, Mondesi has been under house arrest since 2017, and it is known that all the sentences issued this time have been removed.
The Associated Press has taken Mondesi to court for embezzling $5 million during his time as mayor between 2010 and 2016. The prison sentence came after adjusting the sentence with the prosecution, saying that Mondesi had already served his sentence after serving six years of house arrest.
Mondesi unsuccessfully tried to run for Senate after stepping down as mayor of San Cristobal. In addition to embezzlement, Mondesi also filed charges of forgery of documents, organizing criminal organizations and engaging in illegal activities, according to Dominican prosecutors.
Mondesi joined the Dodgers in 1988 when he was 17 and made his major league debut in 1993. After being named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1994 with a batting average of 0.306, 16 homers and 56 RBIs, he played an active role as a center hitter for the Dodgers in the mid-to-late 1990s along with Mike Piazza and Eric Carros. In particular, he hit a number of decisive home runs in Park Chan-ho's starting game and gained huge popularity in Korea.
He played on the ground as a so-called five-tool player with power and accuracy, fast feet, strong shoulders and throwing ability. He made 30 home runs and 30 steals twice in 1997 and 1999, and won outfielder Gold Glove in 1995 and 1997.
However, after being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in November 1999, it entered a downward trend. He has since retired since 2005 after playing for the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Anaheim Angels and Atlanta Braves. He had a career batting average of 0.273, 1,589 hits, 271 homers, 860 RBIs and 229 steals.
The son, Adalberto Mondesi, played shortstop for the Kansas City Royals for seven years from 2016 to 2022. After recording 311 hits, 38 homers and 133 steals in his career, he virtually withdrew from the Major League.
jhno@sportschosun.com
