Shohei Ohtani's attorneys accuse $700m Dodgers star's interpreter of stealing 'at least $4.5MILLION' from him to place bets with a bookmaker being investigated by federal authorities

Shohei Ohtani's attorneys have accused the Los Angeles Dodgers star's interpreter of stealing at least $4.5million to place bets with a bookmaker being investigated by federal authorities.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani's name appeared in a probe by federal investigators of Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. 

It led representatives of Ohtani, who signed a $700million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, to the player's longtime interpreter and close friend Ippei Mizuhara. 

Mizuhara, who has now been fired by the Dodgers, has worked with Ohtani for years and been a constant presence with him in major league clubhouses. When Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels in December, the Dodgers also hired Mizuhara. 

Mizuhara, who was still interpreting for Ohtani in Seoul on Wednesday, allegedly placed bets on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football.

Shohei Ohtani's attorneys have accused the Los Angeles Dodgers star's interpreter of stealing

Ippei Mizuhara (left) allegedly put bets on international soccer, NBA, NFL and college football

A spokesperson for Ohtani originally told ESPN on Tuesday that he had sent funds to cover Mizuhara's gambling debts before the interpreter then gave a 90-minute interview to lay out his version of events.

But as ESPN prepared to publish it on Wednesday, the same spokesman completely distanced themselves from Mizuhara's account and instead said Ohtani's lawyers were preparing their own statement.

West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler later said: 'In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities.' 

The Dodgers said in a statement they were 'aware of media reports and are gathering information.

'The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated,' the statement said. 'The team has no further comment at this time.' 

In the interview with ESPN, Mizuhara said he asked Ohtani to cover his debts - which reportedly had risen to at least $4.5m - last year. He said Ohtani 'wasn't happy about it but said he would help me out.'

On Wednesday, however, Mizuhara - who earns between $300,000 and $500,000 annually - told ESPN that Ohtani had zero knowledge of the debt and the Dodgers player had not transferred any money to the bookmaker.  

Ohtani and interpreter Mizuhara have become close friends since he moved to the USA

Mizuhara (left) pictured with Yamamoto Yoshinobu (center) and Ohtani earlier this week

It's alleged wire-transfer payments were sent from Ohtani's account to somebody working on behalf of Bowyer.

ESPN sources have since insisted Ohtani does not gamble and that the funds covered Mizuhara's substantial losses. 

ESPN later reviewed bank information and discovered Ohtani's name was on two payments of $500,000 made in September and October 2023.

Bowyer's attorney, Diane Bass, said he had 'never met or spoke with Shohei Ohtani'. 

His home in San Juan Capistrano was raided by officers last year as part of the investigation.

Sports betting is still prohibited in the state of California and illegal bookmakers allow people to make bets on credit, whereas regulated sportsbooks demand payment up front. 

The MLB gambling policy, posted in every locker room, prohibit players and team employees from wagering - even legally - on baseball and also ban betting on other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers. Betting on baseball is punishable with a one-year ban from the sport. The penalty for betting on other sports illegally is at the commissioner´s discretion. 

'I never bet on baseball,' Mizuhara told ESPN. 'That's 100 per cent. I knew that rule ... We have a meeting about that in spring training.'

Mizuhara was born in Japan and moved to the Los Angeles area in 1991 so his father could work as a chef. He attended Diamond Bar High School in eastern Los Angeles County and graduated from the University of California, Riverside, in 2007.

After college, Mizuhara was hired by the Boston Red Sox as an interpreter for Japanese pitcher Hideki Okajima. 

In 2013, he returned to Japan to translate for English-speaking players on the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. That´s where he first met Ohtani, who joined the team that same year.

Ohtani's RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally as the Dodgers beat the Padres 5-2

Ohtani's new wife Mamiko Tanaka was watching from the stands in Seoul on Wednesday

Ohtani is currently in South Korean capital Seoul for the Dodgers' season-opening games against the San Diego Padres. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Ohtani's RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally in his Dodgers debut as they beat the Padres 5-2.

With new wife Mamiko Tanaka watching from the stands, Ohtani got his first hit with the Dodgers in a 112.3 mph single to right against Yu Darvish. 

'Just a good night overall for Shohei,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. 

'The bigger picture it's significant because you've got such a generational talent that is on your ballclub in a big market in Los Angeles. There's a lot more eyeballs on the Dodgers and on Major League Baseball.'

Ohtani went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his first game since leaving the Angels for a record $700m, 10-year contract with the Dodgers. A crowd of 15,952 was on hand to watch at the Gocheok Sky Dome.

A bomb threat did not seem to affect pregame preparations. Police found no explosives and said they acted on a tip that the threat was against Ohtani.

DailyMail.com has contacted MLB for comment.