Try as it might, the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) just can’t seem to shake gambling scandals large and small.
On Thursday, one day after Korean media reported that Samsung Lions pitcher An Ji-man was under investigation for allegedly financing a friend’s illegal online gambling site, Seoul prosecutors charged the 33-year-old with gambling both domestically and abroad.
Seoul prosecutors began their investigation into An’s activities late last year as part of a probe into multiple Korean baseball stars’ visits to Macau casinos. Police now say that they have testimony from two individuals who witnessed An spending tens of thousands of dollars gambling in Macau casino VIP rooms.
Seoul police ramped up their investigation last month by seizing An’s computer and smartphone, which revealed visits to a Korea-based illegal online gambling site. An’s bank records detailed money sent to the same gambling site.