South Korean pitchers indicted over overseas gambling charges

Prosecutors said Wednesday they have asked a local court for a summary indictment against two South Korean pitchers on charges of overseas gambling and are seeking 7 million won ($5,970) each in fines.

Lim Chang-yong and Oh Seung-hwan are suspected of gambling 40 million won each in Macau in November 2014.

Oh, a free agent seeking a major league contract, admitted to gambling while claiming that he cannot remember the exact amount he bet, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said.

Last month, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club Samsung Lions released veteran pitcher Lim after he was grilled by prosecutors over similar suspicions. During the 13-hour interrogation, Lim partially admitted to gambling with some 40 million won, according to prosecutors. The two are suspected to have left together.

Prosecutors are known to have concluded that the gambling was not habitual but was a one-time event during a holiday.

Oh had pitched for the Lions from 2005 to 2013. Two of his former Samsung teammates, pitchers Yun Sung-hwan and An Ji-man, are also facing gambling charges.

Oh pitched the last two seasons for the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

The right-hander led the Central League in saves in each of the past two seasons. Despite a leg injury that cut his season short in September, Oh tied Tony Barnette with 41 saves this year, along with a 2.83 ERA, striking out 66 in 69 1/3 innings. Last year, his first in the NPB, Oh recorded 39 saves with a 1.76 ERA while striking out 81 in 66 2/3 innings.

Oh, the career leader in saves in the KBO with 277 saves in nine seasons with the Lions, has been trying to land a big league contract after a successful stint in Asia. He had traveled to the United States last month but was forced to return home for questioning. (Yonhap)