Question from a reader:
I heard that Ichipei Mizuhara was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison, along with a compensation of 2.6 billion yen to Shohei Ohtani. Can he actually pay that huge amount? I’m worried about what will happen if he can’t.
Thoughts on Ichipei Mizuhara’s Sentence
Recently, I was honestly surprised to hear that Ichipei Mizuhara received a sentence of 4 years and 9 months and a compensation of 2.6 billion yen to Shohei Ohtani. While I felt the prison term was shorter than expected, the
amount of compensation was staggering. Thinking about 2.6 billion yen makes me realize it’s an unfathomable sum, equivalent to several years of my salary.
The Complexity of Plea Bargaining
In conversations with friends, we’ve discussed how complicated plea bargaining can be. Initially, a prison term of over 30 years was anticipated, yet it ended up being just 4 years and 9 months. It seems the plea deal significantly reduced the severity of the punishment, but I can’t help but feel that at least a minimum of 10 years would have been more appropriate. Am I the only one who feels somewhat dissatisfied?
The Reality of Compensation
Now, regarding the compensation. When talking with friends about how he could possibly repay 2.6 billion yen and over 170 million yen to the IRS, we couldn’t help but laugh. It’s challenging enough for us to manage our living expenses, so how could anyone repay such a monumental debt? His accounts and assets will undoubtedly be seized, and it looks like he’ll have to rely on wages earned from prison labor or writing autobiographies and exposés—it’s almost like something out of a drama.
The Reality of Payments and the Future
Furthermore, it appears that the repayment stance will be “pay what you can.” Writing an autobiography might make his life feel like fiction. However, the harsh reality is that there are many people who find themselves in similar situations where they simply can’t pay, even with legal measures in place. Thinking about what Shohei Ohtani will do next makes me feel a bit sad. While a bright future awaits him, Ichipei Mizuhara faces a tough reality. It’s moments like these that make me feel life is unfair.
What Are Your Thoughts?
What do you all think about this news? If you have any interesting stories or personal experiences, please share! I always find myself getting caught up in discussions with my friends when hearing stories like this, so I’m looking forward to engaging in the comments!
