Lions' An investigated for illegal gambling site

By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Lions’ pitcher An Ji-man, 32, has been investigated for his alleged involvement in opening an illegal gambling site, prosecutors said, Wednesday.

The Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office said the pro baseball pitcher of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) was recently summoned for questioning over allegations that he financed the operation of an illegal online gambling site run by his acquaintance.

According to the local prosecutors’ office, An denied the accusations, saying he lent some money to his friend in order to help him open a restaurant.

Besides being involved in opening an illegal gambling site, An faces another investigation. Along with his teammate Yun Sung-hwan, An was summoned by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency earlier last month over accusations of illegal overseas gambling, which were first made in last October.

Last October, three Lions pitchers -- Yun, An and Lim Chang-yong -- and the former Lions pitcher Oh Seung-hwan, who now throws for the Major League Baseball (MLB) team St. Louis Cardinals were investigated for illegally gambling overseas.

Lim and Oh were indicted and fined in January. Lim was suspended from the team in November before the court made its decision and joined another KBO team, the Kia Tigers.

An is currently off the Lions’ active roster due to shoulder pain.