I'm sorry to Ohtani for confirming the compensation of 24.3 billion won for 4 years and 9 months in prison for interpretation of shock and fear

Feb 07, 2025

Mizhara Yifei appearing in court to be sentenced. AP Yonhap News

Mizhara Yifei. AFP Yonhap News

"I just feel sorry for Otani."

Mizuhara Itpay, who served as the English interpreter and manager of Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) for seven years, was sentenced to heavy punishment by the court.

He, who drew attention with Ohtani's every move, was fired by the LA Dodgers at the end of March last year after allegations related to illegal sports gambling debt were revealed. Mizuhara was always together not only in training but also in her personal life, and it took more than six years. Ohtani first met as a foreign player interpreter when he played for the Nippon Ham Fighters, and when he entered the Major League, he was offered a position as a dedicated interpreter and moved to the U.S. together.

Ohtani has been with Mizuhara for the past six years, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels, and Mizuhara also moved to the Dodgers.

Ippei Mizuhara, right, former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball star Shohei Ohtani arrives at federal court with his attorney Michael G. Freedman, for sentencing for bank and tax fraud on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Santa Ana, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

However, it was revealed that Mizuhara was mired in serious illegal sports gambling, owed millions of dollars, and dabbled in Ohtani's account to pay off gambling debts. The U.S. Department of Justice said on the 9th (Korea time) that Mizuhara agreed with the prosecution to plead guilty to charges that she illegally transferred about $17 million (about 23.2 billion won) from Ohtani's bank account.

Mizuhara used Ohtani's password to access Ohtani's account from November 2021 to March this year, then changed her email address and phone number registered in the bank to have her call her, not Ohtani, when the bank authorizes the transfer, according to U.S. federal prosecutors in California.

Mizuhara used Ohtani's personal information to impersonate Ohtani on 24 calls with bank employees, and in this way stole $16,975,10 from Ohtani's account.

It's not just that. Other crimes are also being revealed one after another. Mizuhara did not report income worth about $4.1 million (about 5.63 billion won) by falsely filling out the tax return.

Acting US Attorney Joseph McNally talks to the media about Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball star Shohei Ohtani at Federal Court after his sentencing for bank and tax fraud on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Santa Ana, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

In addition, in September 2023, he spent $60,000 (about 82 million won) on dental treatment, and it turned out that he paid this amount with a debit card under Ohtani's name. He also reportedly purchased baseball cards worth about 325,000 dollars (about 460 million won) through Ohtani's account and aimed to resell them in the future.

It's not just that. Recently, Mizuhara was even more shocked when a four-minute voice record was made on the phone with a bank employee that tricked him into being Ohtani and tried to transfer $200,000 in the name of a car loan.

Ippei Mizuhara (R) leaves the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana, California, on February 6, 2025. Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Mizuhara, was sentenced February 6 to nearly 5 years in prison, after pleading guilty over charges of illegally transferring nearly $17 million from the baseball star's bank account in order to pay off gambling debts. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Mizuhara appeared in federal court in Santa Ana, California, for a sentencing hearing on the 7th. Mizuhara, wearing a black suit and a tie, looked fatter than before, and her hairstyle was not organized. Surrounded by numerous reporters, he entered the court without saying anything.

According to U.S. media, Mizuhara apologized at the end of the stand, "'Otani is full of apologies.'" This mistake will affect the rest of my life and I am determined to accept the result."

The court sentenced Mizuhara to 57 months in prison (4 years and 9 months) and $16,795,010 (about 24.3 billion won) in compensation.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.