Ippei Mizuhara, the former translator for baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani, has refused to acknowledge guilt in a fraud case despite previously agreeing to plead guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return. Last week, Mizuhara retracted his confession during the trial proceedings, maintaining his innocence.
The translator's sudden reversal came as he indicated plans to file an amended tax return for the year 2022. Regardless of his legal maneuvers, Mizuhara is obligated to repay nearly $17 million allegedly embezzled from Ohtani.
Mizuhara had been in a close relationship with Ohtani since 2018 when the latter joined the Los Angeles Angels. Acting as Ohtani's confidant, Mizuhara assisted in managing the athlete's finances, including opening a bank account for his salary. However, Mizuhara abused this trust by siphoning funds from Ohtani's account, purportedly using the money for gambling activities. It's alleged that Mizuhara even masqueraded as Ohtani to facilitate unauthorized bank transfers.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case sheds light on the complexities and consequences of financial deception within professional sports circles.
