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Osaka cops arrest Yu Darvish’s brother in baseball gambling ring

Sho Darvish
Sho Darvish

OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police on Tuesday announced the arrest of the younger brother of Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish for accepting illegal wagers on baseball games, reports NHK (Oct. 27).

Police took Sho Darvish, 26, and two other suspects into custody for running a bookmaking operation for Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball games from a residence in Ikuno Ward in May.

According to police, the ring accepted 1,850 wagers valued at 10,000 yen each.

Police also arrested five male and female customers on gambling charges.

Darvish, who runs an independent business in Fujiidera City, and the other suspects have refused to comment on the allegations.

The case follows revelations earlier this month that three pitchers with the Yomiuri Giants placed wagers on games.

According to Nippon News Network (Oct. 27), police were tipped off to the activities of the ring in September of last year and subsequently launched an investigation.

This is not the first arrest for the younger Darvish. In February of 2012, the Osaka District Court handed him a suspended one-year prison sentence for assaulting a female acquaintance.

Yu Darvish missed the entire 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. He joined Texas in 2012.