The former interpreter for Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei has appeared in public for the first time in nearly a month.

Mizuhara Ippei surrendered to federal authorities over charges that he stole more than 16 million dollars. He's been charged with bank fraud and, if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and or a fine of one million dollars.

The authorities say Mizuhara was taken into custody on Friday morning in Los Angeles.

He appeared at a brief court hearing in the afternoon, and was released on some conditions. They include not engaging in gambling and having no contact with Ohtani.

Neither Mizuhara nor his lawyer took questions from reporters despite having earlier said they would.

The lawyer later said in a statement that Mizuhara wishes to apologize to Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball as well as his family.

Mizuhara was fired by the L.A. Dodgers last month, after US media outlets reported he was allegedly involved in illegal gambling. Prosecutors allege that he began placing bets with an illegal bookmaker in September 2021 and started losing large sums of money.

They say he then changed the contact information on Ohtani's bank account to give himself access. He also allegedly impersonated Ohtani in phone calls to the bank to ensure large wire transfers to his bookmakers. He's believed to have carried out the crime without Ohtani's knowledge or permission.

Prosecutors stressed that they believe Ohtani to be a "victim" in the case.