Tonight, baseball's biggest star, Shoya Otani,
speaking for the first time about the theft and gambling
allegations swirling around his former interpreter Epe Misuhara.
Epe has been stealing money from my account and has
told lies.
Very saddened and shocked that someone who I'm trusted has
done this.
Speaking through a new translator,
Otani, addressing reports $4.5 million was allegedly wired from his
account to a bookmaker in Southern California.
Where sports betting is illegal.
Never bet on baseball, any other sports,
or never have asked somebody to do it on my
behalf.
Those remarks come nearly a week after the Dodgers fired
Miss Uhara,
who allegedly told conflicting stories about what Otani knew and
when.
The MLB is now investigating.
They're going to look at the paper trail with respect
to communications between Mr.
Otani and his interpreter to see exactly what it is
he understood he was authorizing when these substantial transfers of
funds were being made.
According to the LA Times,
Otani's name surfaced in a federal investigation into bookie Matthew
Boyer.
His attorney says Boyer had no interactions with Ohtani,
only Miss Uhara, and no bets were placed on baseball.
At some point, Mr. Boyer understood that a wire transfer
had come through with the name Ohtani and the subject
line said loan.
But that was the only knowledge that Mister Boyer had
and he never asked any questions about it.
The IRS now investigating Boyer and Miss Suhara,
now here at Dodger Stadium.
Atani did not take any questions from reporters,
but he insisted he did not pay off his interpreter's
debts.
Miss Uhara has not responded to NBC News's multiple attempts
to reach him.