The former interpreter of baseball star Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, said he is “truly sorry” after he was sentenced to over four-and-a-half years in prison for his role in a gambling and fraud scandal.
As reported by BBC News, Mizuhara was told to pay back almost US$17m he had stolen from Ohtani.
Mizuhara used the funds to pay debts to a gambling company in California.
He was sentenced to 57 months, or four years and nine months, in prison.
"I am truly sorry to Mr Ohtani for what I have done,” Mizuhara said.
“I know an apology will not fix the crime I committed. This mistake will impact me for the rest of my life and I'm prepared to accept the consequences."
